When the New York Giants drafted wide receiver Jalin Hyatt in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, it looked like they were getting an elite playmaker. Hyatt, who played his college ball at Tennessee, thrived in his last season as a Volunteer in 2022, posting career highs with 1,267 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
That season, Hyatt claimed the highest honor bestowed on a collegiate wide receiver, the Belitnikoff Award. He edged out Xavier Hutchinson from Iowa State and 2024 top-five pick Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State. Impressive company.
Despite not recording a touchdown during his rookie season in 2023, the wideout still managed 23 receptions for 373 receiving yards. He also won the NFL's Pepsi Offensive Rookie of the Week award in Week 12 after his first career 100-yard game against the New England Patriots.
Hyatt's sophomore season, however, has been a complete disaster. His selection over Puka Nacua, who has quickly established himself as one of the league's best players, has proven to be a major misstep.
Forget the Puka point for a second. Look at every receiver drafted after Hyatt 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 any one of them would have been a better pick https://t.co/XUnB4jJYkb
— Mr. Chicken (@5on_it) December 8, 2024
The Giants drafting Jalin Hyatt over Puka Nacua is unforgivable
Even though Puka Nacua wasn’t as highly touted as Hyatt—selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams—the numbers don’t lie about how good Nacua has been since entering the league. Hyatt, however, has been a complete disappointment.
After many expected Hyatt to have a breakout second season in the NFL, the 23-year-old has managed just seven receptions for only 53 yards and is still searching for his first career touchdown. This makes Big Blue's decision to select him over a player like Nacua look even worse.
The former Washington Husky and BYU Cougar surprised everyone during his rookie season in 2023, setting rookie records with 105 receptions for 1,486 yards while also scoring six touchdowns. Despite missing four games this season due to injury, the 23-year-old phenom has still had a monster year in 2024, recording 54 receptions for 708 yards and three touchdowns. Nacua may also be coming off his best game as a pro, posting 12 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
The stats don’t lie: Hyatt has been a complete letdown for the Giants, while Nacua may go down as one of the biggest steals in the draft. While poor quarterback play for the Giants might explain why Hyatt hasn’t lived up to expectations, you can’t help but wonder what could have been if New York had selected Puka Nacua instead.