New York Giants rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt scored five touchdowns against Alabama last October while playing for the Tennessee Volunteers.
His performance contributed to a 52-49 victory over the Crimson Tide, and the 52-point output was the most allowed by an Alabama team since giving up 54 points to Sewanee in 1907.
Yet, at the NFL draft this spring, Hyatt’s name was not called on Thursday night and was in danger of being bypassed again in Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday.
One team, however, saw the injustice and decided to act — that team was the Giants.
General manager Joe Schoen saw that Hyatt was falling down the order in the third round but felt he may not last to the 89th overall selection.
Schoen chose to move up via a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, sending the 89th and 128th overall selections to L.A. in exchange for the 73rd overall pick.
It was there that Hyatt was finally taken. After the third round, Schoen revealed that Hyatt was a player they had on their radar.
“He can roll. I was at that Alabama game,” said Schoen. “I can’t remember why I came in late, but I was a little bit late. But I was on the field for the first half. I was coming from another game, landed there, and first half I was on the field, and you could really feel his speed. It’s legit 4-3.”
Yes, it is.
Somedays, he seems even faster. Hyatt is not only burning up the field with his speed at Giants training camp, he’s showing extreme prowess in all facets of the game. He has “draft steal” written all over him.
Jalin Hyatt ran 24 MPH during the Giants training camp 💨😳
(via @On3sports, @art_stapleton) pic.twitter.com/FRgNrwN2cL
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 31, 2023
Great catch by Jalin Hyatt but also love Daniel Jones pulling the trigger for the whole shot in the 2 man game pic.twitter.com/wzTUbnhL48
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) July 31, 2023
Isaiah Hodgins, last season’s breakout wide receiver for the Giants, was asked how he felt Hyatt was doing so far at camp.
“He’s been doing great. He’s doing everything a rookie is supposed to be doing, he’s asking all the right questions,” said Hodgins.
“He’s soaking everything in like a sponge, he comes up to me and (wide receiver Darius) Slay(ton) and (wide receiver Cole) Beas(ley), he’s always asking questions, trying to watch film and do all the right stuff. I think he definitely brings just that explosive part to our offense. He’s one of those pieces who helps stretch the field vertically for us. I’m excited for him to keep taking it step by step and learning this game, getting all those bumps out of the way, which it seems like he has, and just keep taking the top off of defenses.”
The Giants wanted to add speed to their offense this offseason, bringing in players such as wide receiver Parris Campbell and tight end Darren Waller, both of whom have also impressed.
But Hyatt is the one who continues to pop eyeballs on a daily basis.
