Giants' Jalin Hyatt on possibly being traded: 'I want to be here'
Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt warms up on the sidelines during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 14 in Arlington, Texas. Credit: AP/Jerome Miron
By Tuesday’s 4 p.m. NFL trade deadline, Jalin Hyatt will know if his Giants tenure is over or if it’s just closer to the end.
The third-year wide receiver was used on kick return duty Sunday for the first time in his career. He took seven snaps on special teams but none on offense with receiver Ray-Ray McCloud elevated from the practice squad.
Having Hyatt return kicks was needed with Devin Singletary at second-string running back and Deonte Banks starting at cornerback. But it illustrated that midway through his third season, Hyatt has struggled to find a role.
With the deadline coming, he said he’s ready for whatever takes place.
“I can’t really control what happens with trades,” he said after Sunday’s loss to the 49ers. “If I’ll be here, if I’m not. I want to be here. I want to be part of this team. Keep building great relationships with guys on this team. It’ll hurt to be moved, but at the end of the day, it’s the league. It’s a business.”
Whatever the Giants do, it’s clear things aren’t working as constructed. They have started 2-7 for the third straight season. There are issues ranging from receiver depth to lack of playmaking to a defense that allows the fifth-most points per game (27.7).
There is no telling who could be on the move. That uncertainty always make things difficult in the locker room, although some players say they aren’t worrying about it.
“I’ve been in that situation a certain amount of times,” linebacker Brian Burns said. “It’s tough to keep out of your head when you’re the name that’s in it. It’s tough to not look at it, but at the same time, you can’t control whether you leave or stay. So I think the only thing that you can do is focus on your craft, focus on your work.”
That’s easier said than done, especially for Hyatt and offensive lineman Evan Neal. Both have had disappointing careers as Giants, and the deadline could be the right time to cut bait.
Hyatt has only three catches for 17 yards this season. The third-round selection in 2023 is still searching for his first career touchdown. He got more snaps in Weeks 4 and 5 with Malik Nabers out, but the Giants also leaned more heavily on two-tight end personnel with two receivers — Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson — instead of their usual three-receiver sets.
For Week 8 against the Eagles, Hyatt was among the inactives as a healthy scratch for the first time this season. This week, he returned kicks for the first time since high school.
It spoke volumes about how far Hyatt has fallen on the receiver depth chart. Gunner Olszewski caught a 24-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter Sunday. Undrafted free agent Beaux Collins has been getting snaps ahead of Hyatt the last few games.
“I just want opportunities. I’m in Year 3 and I gotta start showing stuff,” Hyatt said. “Start proving that I’m worthy to be here. Gotta have the opportunity.”
That’s something Neal hasn’t had this season. He was designated a healthy inactive ahead of every game until Sunday, when the only reason he was active was an injury to right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. Even then, Neal stayed benched as rookie Marcus Mbow filled in to start.
A switch from tackle to guard this spring couldn’t help Neal regain a starting spot. He never lived up to his draft spot (No. 7 overall in 2022) and will be remembered for his controversial rant in 2023 in which he called critical fans “sheep” and compared them to fast-food workers.
He also will be a free agent this winter after the team declined his fifth-year option. So it would behoove the Giants to try to get something for him if they can.
The struggles of Neal and Hyatt are subplots to the Giants’ bigger issues of fixing another disappointing season. But whether Tuesday brings an actual trade or not, both players are hoping for resolution — even if it means this is their last week as Giants.
“Gotta wait it out,” Hyatt said. “Whatever God has planned for me, if it’s with this team or not. I love this team. I love the players that are here. Built good relationships with them. Whatever happens happens.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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