By Doug Haller, Nick Baumgardner and Dane Brugler
Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon, two of college football’s top receivers, have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
The pair is projected to be first-round selections.
Tyson was No. 8 on Dane Brugler’s most recent board and the No. 7 pick in his updated mock.
The 6-foot-2 Tyson began his career at Colorado, then transferred in 2023 to Arizona State, where he sat out the bulk of his first season recovering from knee surgery. Once healthy, Tyson flourished, flashing big-play skill and a knack for making difficult catches.
A two-time All-Big 12 first-team selection, Tyson posted 136 catches for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons with the Sun Devils. Twenty-six of those receptions went for 20-plus yards.
The 5-11 Lemon won this season’s Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver. An Athletic first-team All-American, he finished with 79 catches for 1,156 yards — fourth-most in the country — and 11 touchdowns. His 96.3 receiving yards per game ranked third nationally.
Lemon started slowly at USC, catching only six passes for 88 yards as a freshman, but he kept getting better. He had a team-best 52 catches for 764 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore in 2024, and he was one of the country’s top playmakers in 2025.
Brugler’s quick thoughts
A hamstring injury is about the only thing that has been able to slow Tyson this season.
The Arizona State receiver can create separation and win at the catch point, regardless of where he lines up across the formation. Tyson had 18 receiving touchdowns (plus one rushing touchdown) over his final two seasons.
What Lemon (5-11, 195) lacks in size, he makes up for with his manipulative route running and competitive finishing skills at the catch point. Get ready for the Amon-Ra St. Brown comparisons. — Dane Brugler, NFL Draft analyst
Nick Baumgardner’s scouting report
Arguably the most complete wide receiver in the class, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Tyson is a big-bodied target who moves like a small one while maintaining a consistent presence as a blocker. A very flexible athlete with strong hands and great vision in the open field, Tyson’s only resume hiccup right now is health. He has suffered severe knee and collarbone injuries in the past, along with a hamstring injury in 2025.
If his medicals cooperate, Tyson should be in the mix for WR1. — Nick Baumgardner, senior NFL Draft writer
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