He’s now a permanent resident of the last-chance saloon, but Jalin Hyatt may have found an unexpected way to salvage his career with the New York Giants. A surprising “change” in role that helped the disappointing former third-round NFL draft pick make a “great” play at training camp.
Hyatt is still the forgotten name in a crowded competition at wide receiver, so he’s doing the smart thing by turning his hand to special teams work. Only not in the way you might think.
The player known for his burning vertical speed, but little else, isn’t returning kicks at camp. Instead, Hyatt’s “worked as a punt gunner – a change from years past when he was a returner during special-teams periods,” according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.
It’s a fascinating experiment that’s already yielding positive results. Dunleavy highlighted how Hyatt “had a great rep where he used his speed to get wide and down the field to draw a penalty. He also caught a touchdown pass from (backup quarterback Jameis) Winston.”
Covering kicks looks like an awkward fit for Hyatt on the surface, but there’s actually some merit to this dramatic career reinvention. Even if it still may not be enough to save a wideout seemingly destined for the chop, particularly after the Giants added so many bodies at his position, most notably a returning fan favorite.
Jalin Hyatt’s Change More Smart than Desperate
Okay, so there’s an element of desperation about Hyatt trying to stay relevant by mixing it in another area of football’s third phase. Yet, there’s also something sneakily smart about this role change.
Specifically, it can take advantage of Hyatt’s ability to cover ground in a hurry. The example referenced by Dunleavy showed how elite downhill speed can disrupt the convoy for a punt return.
Many wide receivers throughout NFL history have used this same trait to become demons on special teams. Think former New England Patriots three-time Super Bowl-winner and 10-time Pro Bowler Matthew Slater, or Buffalo Bills’ great Steve Tasker.
Putting Hyatt next to Slater and Tasker is fanciful to say the least, but there’s a path form the 24-year-old to be successful in this role. Not least because new head coach John Harbaugh cut his teeth as a special teams guru, and so did new Giants coordinator Chris Horton, who worked with Harbs for the Baltimore Ravens.
GettyHarbaugh’s expertise on special teams could save Hyatt’s career.
Hyatt needs to take full advantage of the excellent tutelage he’ll get about being a gunner, because he’s less likely than ever to be a factor for Big Blue at his natural position.
Giants Have Little Room to Spare in Wide Receiver Room
The battle for wide receiver reps was already congested, but the recent resurgence of returning veteran Odell Beckham Jr. is another obstacle in front of Hyatt. He was already facing up to 2026 NFL draft third-round pick Malachi Fields earning an important spot on the depth chart.
Ex-Notre Dame stud “Fields has demonstrated an ability to make plays downfield, which could be his primary role as a rookie,” according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.
Fields’ emergence as a deep threat is bad news for Hyatt because attacking coverage vertically is the one thing that’s supposed to set him apart. Yet, Duggan pointed out how “unlike Jalin Hyatt, whose speed made him a deep threat exclusively, the 6-foot-4, 222-pound Fields has the size to run underneath routes and use his physicality to make contested catches.”
Hyatt isn’t likely to find a home in the slot, where new arrival Calvin Austin III has been earning the trust of second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. Meanwhile, a favorite of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is also in the mix.
There isn’t even a place for Hyatt in the return game, after the Giants added an All-Pro earlier this offseason. One who’s even impressed as a receiver at camp.
GettyHyatt isn’t needed as a returner, after the Giants replaced injured Gunner Olszewski (80) with another All-Pro.
Each of these players have a firmer footing in the scramble to get into the lineup to support No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers, once he’s fully up to speed after his recovery from a torn ACL.
Hyatt’s best bet to at least be in the conversation for a roster spot will be to lean into his work as a gunner.
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