New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt was greeted by a considerable amount of fanfare when he joined the team as a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Considered a draft-day steal by most industry experts, Hyatt was viewed as a potential answer for the team's WR woes.
After two seasons in the league, he's only created more questions.
Hyatt finished last season with just eight catches for 69 yards. His rookie season wasn't much better; he totaled 23 catches for 373 yards. He has yet to record a touchdown in the NFL.
The Giants have made a concerted effort to upgrade at wide receiver since Hyatt's arrival, too. They selected superstar Malik Nabers in the first round last year, and he immediately delivered. Nabers dominated as a rookie, catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games.
Big Blue made a sizable financial commitment to Darius Slayton this offseason, inking the veteran wideout to a three-year, $36 million deal.
With WanDale Robinson as the team's tailor-made slot receiver, Hyatt is in the unenviable position of a player without a clear role, making this offseason -- the team's OTAs and training camp -- critically important for his outlook with the Giants.
The good news for Jalin Hyatt is that the quarterback issues that plagued him during his first two years in the league appear to be over. New York added veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, who have the deep ball skill set to take advantage of Hyatt's linear traits. The Giants also selected Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft; perhaps he forms an early-career bond with Hyatt.
Giants rookie WR Jalin Hyatt week 2 highlights🎥
— evin (@EvinKnowsBall) September 18, 2023
The Giants got their WR1 😈 pic.twitter.com/jSR8UN9mCV
Hyatt still has time to prove he belongs on the field alongside Nabers and Slayton, but he needs to make a fast and big impression on coach Brian Daboll during the Giants' upcoming OTA workouts.
He was recently ranked among Big Blue's players to watch over the next few days.
"After a rookie season that saw him flash some of what made him the 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner, Hyatt didn't do much last year as he finished with only eight receptions," Giants.com's Matt Citak wrote. "As we know, one of Hyatt's biggest strengths is his ability to stretch the defense. He now has a quarterback that is known for his accuracy on passes downfield. Hyatt could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Wilson's famous moonball, which could be on full display as early as next week."
The New York Giants will begin their first round of OTAs on Tuesday, with sessions running through May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5, June 9-10, June 12-13.
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