Can Giants WR Jalin Hyatt Crack into a Starting Role as a Rookie?

This is what receiver Jalin Hyatt needs to do a couple of things this summer if he's to see a larger role in the offense.

Author:
Hunter De Siver
Publish date:
Jun 6, 2023 4:00 PM EDT

In this story:

New York Giants

Jalin Hyatt, Wide Receiver

Height: 6-foot | Weight: 185 pounds
2022 Stats*: GP 12 / GS 12. 67 receptions, 1,267 yards, 15 touchdowns
*College stats at Tennessee

For the first half of the 2022 college football season, former Tennessee receiver Jalin Hyatt was just an average wide receiver with a few good games here and there. Tennessee then got off to their best start in quite some time, earning a No. 6 nationwide ranking ahead of a showdown against No. 3-ranked Alabama.

The matchup everyone was talking about in the game was between Heisman-hopeful quarterbacks Bryce Young and Malik Hooker. And while both didn't disappoint, Hyatt stole the show in recording six receptions for 207 yards and five touchdowns.

Tennessee won the game 52-49 on a game-winning field goal, but that game elevated Hyatt's name, who suddenly saw his NFL draft stock rise.

Hyatt rode this newfound momentum throughout the rest of the season, finishing with the second-most receiving yards in school history, the most receiving touchdowns in a Volunteer uniform, and the Fred Biletnikoff trophy given to the nation’s best receiver.

Yet when it came to the draft, countless draftniks had Hyatt going anywhere from the first round to early Day 3, thanks in part to his smallish frame and limited route tree. The New York Giants liked enough of what they saw to trade up in the third round and grab the highly confident receiver, whose speed should help them stretch the field.

Best Case Scenario

The Giants have a plethora of wide receivers capable of playing on Sundays. However, the "best" receiver isn’t much better than the "worst."

Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, and Parris Campbell will likely be the Week 1 starters, with Hyatt likely to be eased into the mix. His 4.4 40-yard dash time is among the best on the Giants, and there is always room for speed on the field, especially on an offense that last year ranked last in big-play passes (28).

Three of Hyatt’s five touchdowns against Alabama were deep balls (36, 60, and 78 yards). He can break away and enter open space with his elite top-end vertical speed.

Hyatt’s unique agility and acceleration may be enough for him to take a starting role at some point in this coming season. Opposing defensive backs may struggle to keep up with routes that involve running 20-plus yards without the ball.

By the way, Hyatt was the tenth receiver selected in the draft. If he earns a starting spot, he has as good a chance as any to eventually question if nine mistakes were made ahead of him.

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Worst Case Scenario

Hyatt fell in the draft primarily due to his small frame and lack of a route tree. He could put on more muscle, but that might have to wait until next off-season. That said, there have been plenty of smaller receivers that shine without durability concerns.

NFL wide receivers are expected to be proficient with the entire route tree. Hyatt must work on numerous short and medium route combinations to contribute both in the slot and perimeter.

Barring injury, Hyatt will be on the roster. Whether he's among the top three receivers is another story. Early expectations are that his role might be initially limited but will grow as he progresses and the season grinds on.

What to Expect in 2023

Hodgins, Slayton, and Campbell are projected as the starting wide receivers. Hyatt has the vertical speed and acceleration to take one of their spots, but until he creates a more versatile route tree besides go-routes and deep crossers, he’ll likely remain behind them on the depth chart.

The 22-year-old (age by Week 3) has plenty of time to work on these shortcomings, including this summer. Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were once known purely for their top-end vertical speed but are now considered among the NFL's best vertical and horizontal route runners. There's no reason to think Hyatt can't find similar success.