What sold Kellen Moore on picking Jordyn Tyson in the 2026 NFL Draft? Sure, the game tape helped. So did the thorough scouting report Jeff Ireland's department put together. And it was a good opportunity to introduce themselves to Tyson when he joined the New Orleans Saints brass for a 20-minute interview at the NFL Combine back in February. But it wasn't until Moore had more time to get to know the former Arizona State standout during his pre-draft visit that he was fully convinced this was his guy.

"When you go through these 30 visits, they, they experience just about our entire building," Moore recalled during his press conference after Round 1. "I thought the football junkie part was cool to me, just getting to know, you know, where his mind was."

One thing that stood out from those conversations was learning Tyson's older brother plays in the NBA. The younger Tyson has the same work ethic and passion for his craft, but Moore emphasized that "he loves football." Having a sibling as a professional athlete goes a long way towards creating an example of what it takes to succeed in such a competitive field.

And that extends to Tyson's study habits. Like many wideouts, Tyson studies the pros to learn from their game and improve his own skill set. But Moore said Tyson wasn't just watching the receivers with the most catches or yards. He was keyed in on specific players with something in their toolbox that set them apart: "You're asking about which receivers are you watching that you're trying to learn from, 'I'm learning from this guy and here's why, and this guy, here's why.' And I mean he's got a really smart head to him, you know, as far as a football acumen and awareness to what's going on around our league and everything. And so, you know, it was really impressive."

It's clear that Moore is eager to get Tyson into the film room and out to the practice field so he can see exactly what his new weapon can do. Pairing the wideout with Chris Olave gives quarterback Tyler Shough two viable threats on top of the depth chart, and their presence could make life easier for everyone around them. Coverage shading towards one or the other makes opportunities for guys like pass-catching tight end Juwan Johnson and big slot receiver Devaughn Vele. It's a rising tide that lifts all ships. And Moore is fired up to see where it takes them.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints HC Kellen Moore eager to coach 'football junkie' Jordyn Tyson