Countdown to Kickoff: Chris Tyree is the Saints Player of Day 89
As of today, the New Orleans Saints are 89 days away from their 2025 regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Currently wearing No. 89 is a newcomer to the Saints, undrafted rookie wide receiver Chris Tyree. Undrafted rookies typically have low odds to make an NFL roster, but the Saints have historically had good fortune with such players. Here's a closer look at Tyree, our Saints Player of the Day.
Name (age): Chris Tyree
Chris Tyree Hometown: Chester, Va.
Chester, Va. Position: Wide receiver
Wide receiver Height, weight: 5-foot-10, 192 pounds
5-foot-10, 192 pounds College: Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers Relative Athletic Score: 9.52
9.52 Drafted: Undrafted
Undrafted NFL experience: Rookie
Rookie 2025 salary cap hit: $843,333
Notre Dame won a heavy battle for Tyree, a four-star recruit out of Thomas Dale High School in Virginia. Tyree actually came to the Fighting Irish as a running back and kick returner, where he had over 1,000 all-purpose yards and scored four times as a true freshman in 2020. He averaged 756 all-purpose yards per year between 2021 and 2023. In his four years at Notre Dame, Tyree averaged nearly 300 yards per year returning kicks while scoring 2 touchdowns in that capacity.
By 2023, Tyree's value was more as a receiver than a runner for the Fighting Irish offense. He led Notre Dame with 484 receiving yards in 2023, catching a career-high 26 receptions at 18.6 yards per catch. At the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, Tyree transferred to Virginia to finish off his collegiate career. In his one year with the Cavaliers, Tyree caught 24 passes for 136 yards and added 222 yards on kick returns. During his collegiate career, Tyree consistently ranked among the top kickoff returners among independent programs.
Not selected in this spring's draft, the Saints inked Tyree as an undrafted addition. New Orleans has had outstanding fortune with undrafted wide receivers. Explosive starting wideout Rashid Shaheed is only the latest example, while team Hall of Famer Lance Moore is the most productive example. The Saints also got contributions from undrafted wideouts like Deonte Harris, Marquez Callaway, Brandon Coleman, and Willie Snead in recent history.
Chris Tyree will have his chance to add his name to that list. Tyree has elite explosive traits, getting clocked at a 4.29 in the 40 and posting a 42-inch vertical leap along with impressive shuttle times during postseason workouts. His athleticism is similar to Shaheed, as is are his skills as a kick returner. Both are traits that earned Shaheed a spot on the New Orleans roster.
Remember that Tyree started in college as a running back. This versatility, along with his game-breaking speed, could be a valuable weapon for new Saints coach Kellen Moore and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. Tyree must quickly overcome his inexperience as a receiver and show he can successfully run an NFL route tree. However, his explosiveness may provide him the opportunity to be the latest New Orleans undrafted gem.
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