The New York Giants’ 2024 season was a disaster from start to finish, but somehow, even the wins managed to cause chaos. After suffering through a 10-game losing streak and parting ways with Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, Giants fans were clinging to the one silver lining—the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Then, in classic Giants fashion, they managed to botch even that. A 45-33 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17 sent them tumbling out of the top draft spot, costing them the ability to control their own fate at quarterback. Fans weren’t happy, and Jalin Hyatt understands why—but he’s not apologizing for it.
Hyatt joined FanSided’s Stacking the Box podcast on behalf of Hyatt Hotels ahead of Super Bowl LIX and responded to the backlash from fans upset that the team "ruined" the tank. His message? Players don’t care about draft order.
Jalin Hyatt talks Giants draft, Saquon Barkley, and Super Bowl
“I understand what they're mad at,” Hyatt said. “Obviously, you want to have the first or second pick so you can choose who you want. But the problem is, we're in the league. We never go out there [and] try to lose games. We get paid. Not only that, we're all trying to win.” It's an obvious sentiment that fans sometimes need reminding of. At the end of the day, they are still professionals.
For fans, draft position is everything. For players and coaches? It’s about survival. There are no guarantees in the NFL—not with draft picks, and definitely not with jobs. A front office might have the luxury of looking toward the future, but players are focused on keeping their careers alive in the present.
“What's so hard about it is, when you're losing so many games, you don't want to lose again,” Hyatt added. “That feeling is not a good feeling. … It's tough going to that next week.”
It’s an understandable perspective, but that doesn’t make it any easier for fans to stomach. The difference between picking first and third could mean landing a franchise quarterback or missing out entirely—and in a draft class loaded with QB talent, that’s a hard pill to swallow.
Hyatt also addressed the other sore subject for Giants fans—Saquon Barkley leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl. Despite New York’s hatred for their division rivals, Hyatt says he has no problem cheering for Barkley on the sport’s biggest stage.
"I'm definitely cheering for him,” Hyatt said. “Only Saquon, though. Just because we play the Eagles twice a year." It's good to know he's not one of those rooting for the... green team outright. Rooting for Barkley is one thing, but cheering on the Eagles is another. Priorities.
It’s a sentiment that sums up how many Giants fans feel—happy for Barkley, disgusted over where he ended up. But whether it’s Barkley in the Super Bowl or the Giants blowing the tank, Hyatt made one thing clear—players don’t have time to worry about what fans want.