As college players prepare to stand out during the NFL Combine, the media around the Saints are curious who will be picked in the first round.
Many predictions so far have indicated the player picked would most likely be Jeremiyah Love, who would be useful on the ground up the middle since he’s hard to tackle with his height, size and acceleration.
However, it seems opinions have shifted towards drafting a wide receiver in the first round and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper changed his mock draft to suggest
the wide receiver from USC, Makai Lemon, would be a better fit in the long run over Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
In Kiper’s latest Mock-up, he changed his mind to Lemon since he could be a serious deep threat against defenses for Tyler Shough to use in long-drive situations over Tyson’s impactful red-zone presence.
Lemon had an average of 14.6 yards per reception during the 2025 season, with a total of 79 receptions, 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Whether the Saints draft him or not, it’s a safer pick than drafting Tyson, who will miss the combine workouts due to a lingering hamstring injury that pushed him back from having a breakout season in 2025.
The news isn’t shocking for him wanting to focus on recovery, but one big takeaway is that the combine isn’t just to evaluate skill but to determine a player’s durability.
After his injury last season, Jordyn Tyson has been cautious not to make the situation worse and missed three games, finishing the season with 61 receptions for 711 yards, averaging 11.7 yards per catch and had eight touchdowns in 2025.
Although his talent is impressive, his limitations are the main factor. It’s not certain it will dampen his career, but it’s a bullet the Saints need to dodge since hamstrings are known to linger, so it’s something to keep in mind for any team.
