The flashes of promise have been there, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to decipher why Jaxson Dart's rookie season has been so up-and-down. The New York Giants have failed to equip their franchise quarterback with adequate weapons that usually help a young quarterback thrive.
After Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo went down, the Giants have been trotting out Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, and Theo Johnson, with Tyrone Tracy playing a role out of the backfield. But the injuries have seen Jalin Hyatt receive an expanded role even though he's been disappointing.
In Big Blue's 29-21 loss to the Washington Commanders, Dart was picked off while targeting the third-year wideout late, and it was mainly Hyatt's fault due to a bad route. He was supposed to run a dig route, but slowed down to round off his route, which led to Washington DB Mike Sainristil jumping the route.
.@Commanders @Giants @JaxsonDart if I was Dart I would be "LIVID" This is not how you run a route. Can't wait to watch Dart with some real playmakers. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/FxGZPUYAQM
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 16, 2025
And the clear lack of effort led former NFL OL-turned-analyst Brian Baldinger to blast the 24-year-old for his lack of effort on the play, which led him to tweet that Dart needs "real" playmakers, given Jameis Winston has more career touchdown receptions than Hyatt does.
Brian Baldinger blasts Jalin Hyatt for lack of effort on Jaxson Dart interception
Not only did the Giants trade up into the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft for the former Biletnikoff Award winner, but they also considered drafting him in the second round over John Michael Schmitz. And yet, Hyatt is arguably the biggest draft bust from one of their worst draft classes in recent memory.
The selection of the Tennessee product never returned on the investment, as he caught just 36 passes in his career and five for 35 yards in eight games this season. His future in New York is in clear doubt now, as he couldn't even make waves despite playing with a QB catered to his strengths.
The worst part is Hyatt has been targeted nine times this season, and three of those passes have resulted in interceptions. And this happened again because he failed to drop his weight and stay sharp despite having a clear step on Sainristil due to his speed.
Russell Wilson compared him to Tyler Lockett earlier this offseason, and even that couldn't change his fate. Given they hardly play him, the Giants seem to be well aware that he's no longer an NFL-caliber receiver, but Joe Schoen is too scared to cut ties with another one of his failed experiments.
When he was drafted, Hyatt was looked at as a one-trick pony, and now, almost three years later, he's a no-trick pony. He was at least expected to be an adequate deep threat after taking the nation by storm in Knoxville, but his role has continued to diminish after what was a promising rookie season.
At this point, between the lack of effort and lack of production, it would be truly shocking if Hyatt's still a Giant in 2026.