Surprisingly, maybe Odell Beckham Jr. wasn’t the former SEC receiver we should have been watching during the New York Giants’ organized team activities.
You might remember Jalin Hyatt, the 2023 third-round pick now entering his final year of team control.
Hyatt has quietly fallen out of favor with the Giants, only snagging 13 catches for 97 yards the last two years. Jokes aside, it’s incredibly easy to forget that the former Tennessee standout is even on the roster.
No one told Hyatt that, though, and he certainly made his impact felt this week.
Could Jalin Hyatt actually help the Giants in 2026?
Understandably so, the two Giants receivers receiving the most attention may not even crack the Week 1 lineup.
Beckham is a 33-year-old who hasn’t been productive since 2023, and Malik Nabers remains out while recovering from knee surgery.
Nabers’ and Darius Slayton’s injuries have allowed more reps for Hyatt, who followed through with several notable plays this week.
The Athletic’s Dan Duggan especially praised Hyatt on Tuesday following a catch against cornerback Colton Hood.
Hyatt caught a deep pass from backup quarterback Jameis Winston, though the defense complained about a push-off. However, officials did not throw a flag.
“It was good to see Hyatt use his hands like that since he so often gets out-muscled at the catch point,” Duggan wrote.
Hyatt still faces an uphill battle for playing time. Slayton, who had offseason sports hernia surgery, is expected to be ready for training camp.
To his credit, Beckham had a strong week in his first action since December 2024. The Giants also added Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, and rookie Malachi Fields this spring.
Although the Giants signed JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios earlier this month, neither especially impressed during OTAs.
Even if his long-term future isn’t with the Giants, Hyatt could parlay a strong training camp and preseason into a trade elsewhere.
Hyatt has not publicly requested a trade, nor have the Giants indicated they’d be open to such a move.
Now is the perfect time for Hyatt to break through. He turns 25 in September and could easily take advantage of the receiver market next offseason.
Teams aren’t afraid to give No. 3 receivers far more than a simple one-year, prove-it deal.
Hyatt flashed in his rookie season, and a new coaching staff might be what he needs to shoot up the depth chart.
Stranger things have happened than the long-awaited Jalin Hyatt breakout, and he may have the opportunity to finally prove himself.
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