How NFL draft prospect Jordyn Tyson can make history with his brother in Cleveland

CLEVELAND — A series of injuries tried to derail Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson’s football career. The devastating knee injury that ended his freshman season at the University of Colorado in 2022 also kept him out most of the following year with the Sun Devils. A broken collarbone sidelined him late in 2024 and cost him the postseason. A hamstring issue cut into the latter part of last season.

Each time, the setbacks piled up. Each time, Tyson came back.

What was constant through it all didn’t involve a trainer, a coach, or a timetable — it was his older brother, Jaylon.

“He was very important to my rehab because he was consistently in my ear,” Jordyn Tyson said. “He helped instill confidence, especially following that first injury. He helped take my mind off [the injury] by just talking me through it. He was there every step of the way. I can’t thank him enough.”

Now, as Jordyn prepares for the NFL draft, where he’s ranked as one of the top wide receiver prospects, that brotherhood bond could take on new meaning. With the Cleveland Browns holding two first-round picks, the Tyson brothers could make history as the first siblings drafted in the first round of two different professional sports in the same city. Jaylon, who played at the University of California-Berkeley, was selected 20th overall by the Cavaliers in the 2024 NBA draft.

That experience gave Jaylon a unique perspective on his brother’s situation. As a second-year guard for the Cavs, he never endured the type of injury setbacks that reshaped the college career of his younger brother of 20 months. But his time in the NBA provided real advice, like navigating the expectations of being a first-round pick.

More than anything, Jaylon wanted to support his brother and best friend as he always had.

“It hurt me to see him like that,” Jaylon said. “He understood I was there for him because I really love him and care about his well-being. If I could help make him a better football player and a better human being, then that means I did my job as a big brother.”

The closeness of the Tyson brothers was developed by their father, John, who grew up with a tight relationship with his younger brother.

“I told my sons early to foster a close relationship because at some point in time this is going to be your best friend,” said John, who played football at Florida A&M. “This is the guy you’re going to tell stuff to that you don’t want mom and daddy to know. You’re going to always get the unadulterated truth from your brother.”

Indeed. And sometimes the truth hurts. The knee injury Jordyn suffered at Colorado brought on a flood of self-doubt. It was the first injury of his sports career. Questions crept in. Would he still be explosive? How would the injury affect him mentally?

“I didn’t know how my body was going to react,” Jordyn said. “I didn’t know what kind of player I’d come back and be. Then Jaylon came in. He was in my ear telling me I’d be fine and come back better than ever. Ultimately, that’s what ended up happening.”

At Arizona State in 2024 — under the tutelage of Sun Devils receivers coach Hines Ward, a Pittsburgh Steelers legend — Jordyn caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns before suffering a broken collarbone in the second half of the final regular-season game. The injury forced him to miss the Big 12 Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. He earned first-team All-Big-12 and third-team All-America honors.

This past season, Jordyn caught 61 passes for 711 yards and eight touchdowns at Colorado. He had only one drop on 100 targets. He missed several games because of a hamstring injury but highlighted his season with four 100-yard games, including 105 yards in an upset over Texas Tech.

At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, scouts rave about Jordyn’s strength and his ability to play out wide or in the slot. Scouts also point out his football IQ as a route runner. ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks Jordyn as the No. 2 wide receiver in the upcoming NFL draft behind only Carnell Tate (Ohio State) and ahead of Makai Lemon (Southern California), KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) and Denzel Boston (Washington).

His brother agrees with the scouts.

“He’ll be a difference maker wherever he goes,” Jaylon said. “He’s a dog on the field. He’s a Tyson. We always want to run towards the smoke. That’s how we were raised. We don’t shy from nobody. His talent speaks for itself, but his mental approach to the game is what separates him from everyone else.”

The NFL draft could bring the Tyson brothers to the same city. Currently, the Browns have two first-round picks (No. 6 and No. 24). They are projected to either select an offensive lineman or a wide receiver. Jordyn could become that wide receiver.

The Tyson family likes the idea.

“I love the fan base in Cleveland,” John Tyson said. “Cleveland is serious business about their professional sports, and playing there would be a tremendous opportunity for Jordyn. The fans are blue-collar. They go to work and they expect the professional athletes to do the same. And when they do, they love them.”

Cleveland fans have especially embraced Jaylon, who is fifth on the Cavaliers in scoring (13.5 points per game) and third in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage (45.6). Jaylon scored a career-high 39 points on Jan. 16 against the Philadelphia 76ers and was selected to the Rising Stars game at NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. He’s helped fill a void for the Cavs after losing Ty Jerome to free agency and playing without Max Strus this season following foot surgery.

“So far, [Jaylon’s] been someone that brings energy every night,” said Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell. “He’s making plays and hitting big shots. I didn’t expect the shots, but that’s a credit to him continuing to work. He’s been a bright spot for us.”

That’s the kind of support Jordyn hopes to experience if he’s drafted by the Browns, reuniting him and his brother.

“It would be crazy to experience us being in the same city,” Jordyn said. “I don’t know where I’m going to be, and I’ll be happy wherever I end up, but [playing for Cleveland] will have real significance to our family, and it would be a blessing if it happens.”

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