Year three in the NFL is shaping up to be a make-or-break season for New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt.
New York drafted Hyatt in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he’s quite simply been a disappointment, to say the least. Despite flashing signs of eliteness during his rookie year, posting 23 receptions for 373 yards across 17 games and recording his lone 100-yard outing against the Patriots in Week 12, it’s been downhill since for the 23-year-old.
Hyatt had just eight receptions for 62 yards in 16 games as his playing time diminished, with New York leaning more on Darius Slayton throughout 2024. But with the addition of Russell Wilson as Big Blue’s starting quarterback, could that change things for Hyatt heading into the new season?
How Russell Wilson has helped elevate Jalin Hyatt's game since his arrival
Hyatt recently sat down with Patricia Traina of New York Giants on Sports Illustrated and spoke about how, since Wilson came to the Giants, it has helped him grow as a wide receiver, as well as how they first connected when Russ arrived.
"He called me the day we signed him," Hyatt said of how the two began their bond. "I got an unknown call-I didn't have his number saved at that time, so I didn't answer because I didn't know who it was. "Then I get another call from that number. I'm like, 'All right, let me answer it.' And it was Russ. He called me and told me he watched my film and how excited he was to be here and connect."
The third-year wideout spoke highly of Wilson, mentioning how he plays the quarterback position, his durability, and how he's simply a great teammate and guy to be around. Perhaps this is the signal-caller Hyatt needs to finally unlock his long-awaited potential.
It has been a disappointing start to his career, and it wouldn’t seem entirely out of line, or rushed, if the Giants considered cutting ties with Hyatt sooner rather than later. But he has shown flashes of being a dangerous and reliable wideout in the NFL, and with Hyatt and Wilson seemingly already building a rapport before even playing a game together, a change at quarterback might be exactly what Hyatt needs to revive himself in the Giants’ offense.