Former Tennessee Vols WR Jalin Hyatt is officially in a bad situation with the New York Giants
When the New York Giants traded up to select wide receiver Jalin Hyatt in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the assumption was that the former Tennessee Vols standout would have a chance to shine in the Big Apple. Unfortunately for Hyatt, the opposite has been true. And it doesn't look like that's […]
When the New York Giants traded up to select wide receiver Jalin Hyatt in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the assumption was that the former Tennessee Vols standout would have a chance to shine in the Big Apple.
Unfortunately for Hyatt, the opposite has been true. And it doesn't look like that's changing anytime soon based on the latest NFL news.
On Monday evening, the Giants signed wide receiver Darius Slayton to a three-year extension.
Hyatt caught just eight passes on 19 targets in 16 games last season in large part due to the presence of Slayton.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll, in fact, cited Slayton's play last season as the main reason that Hyatt didn't see more opportunities.
With Slayton back in New York, plus wide receivers Malik Nabers (109 receptions in 2024) and Wan'Dale Robinson (93 receptions in 2024) holding down starting jobs, it seems like Hyatt is going to be in for another season in New York that's short on opportunity (unless there's an injury).
Hyatt hasn't really had a chance to show off his skillset in the NFL. He saw a decent amount of playing time as a rookie in 2023, but he wasn't given the chance to build on his first year in the NFL due to the coaching staff's decisions in 2024.
After the 2024 season, Hyatt, who is under contract with the Giants for two more seasons, said "we'll see" when asked by reporters if he expects to see more opportunities in 2025.
"We got some talks we gotta have, but we'll see," added Hyatt when asked if a change of scenery could be needed.
So where does Hyatt go from here?
The former Vol could ask to be traded to a better situation, but he doesn't have much leverage to force that type of move. Hyatt also probably doesn't want to risk his $1.2 million salary in 2025, or deal with fines, by sitting out. Additionally, there's no guarantee that another NFL team would be willing to give the Giants what the franchise might want in a deal for Hyatt. The Giants probably like having Hyatt on the roster for depth, which means they might not be inclined to trade Hyatt regardless of what's best for the former Vol's career.
It's a tough spot for Hyatt. And it's unfortunate. He didn't have any control over his landing spot in the NFL. Ultimately, he just wants a chance to play. For now, it's looking like 2025 could be another difficult season for Hyatt.
The good news, though, is that the South Carolina native is just 23 years old. If he keeps putting in the work and trying to improve every day, he'll eventually get his chance. He just might have to wait until after the 2026 season when he'll be a free agent.
