Former Tennessee Vols WR Jalin Hyatt gets unwelcome news at NFL trade deadline
New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt didn't benefit at all from the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday afternoon. Hyatt, a former Tennessee Vols standout, entered the season with high expectations for himself, but he's barely seen the field in 2024 for the Giants. The South Carolina native has just one reception for six yards […]
New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt didn't benefit at all from the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday afternoon.
Hyatt, a former Tennessee Vols standout, entered the season with high expectations for himself, but he's barely seen the field in 2024 for the Giants.
The South Carolina native has just one reception for six yards through the first nine games of the season.
In the Giants' loss to the Washington Commanders this past Sunday, Hyatt played just four snaps. Hyatt played zero snaps the previous week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It seems obvious that New York has no interest in playing Hyatt this season, which is why there was some hope that the Giants would either trade the former Vol before the deadline or trade veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton (Slayton is basically blocking Hyatt from playing time at this point).
The Giants, however, did neither of those things. They didn't trade Hyatt and they kept Slayton despite the fact that he'll be a free agent after the 2024 season.
I can't stress enough what a dumb decision this was by New York. I get why the didn't trade Hyatt — the Giants traded up to draft him in 2023, there's no reason to trade the former Vol right now (even if they're not using him)– but I don't get keeping Slayton.
The Giants aren't going to the playoffs — unless they reel off eight wins in a row (very unlikely). So why keep Slayton when a contender likely would've given a mid to late round draft pick for him? New York could've traded Slayton for an extra draft pick while creating an opportunity for Hyatt to receive more playing time. It makes no sense to just stand pat.
There's no doubt that Hyatt is eager to play. And after the way he was praised by the Giants' coaching staff for his hard work all offseason, there's no doubt that Hyatt deserves to play.
The Giants had an incredible opportunity to move Hyatt's development along while adding a draft pick and they blew it.
There's no mystery as to why the Giants are living in the basement of the NFC East…
