Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt is one of the most dangerous deep threats in the 2023 NFL Draft class, and several teams should be interested in adding his dynamic speed to their offense. Hyatt is currently projected to go off the board at the back of the first round or early in the second round, so let’s take a look at which teams make the most sense for him.
Jalin Hyatt can FLY 😳
The Tennessee WR is one of the fastest WR’s in this upcoming NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/X01XzARDKd
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) February 24, 2023
5 Teams That Could Draft Wide Receiver Jalin Hyatt
Carolina Panthers
Far and away the most likely fit on any team on this list, the Carolina Panthers moved heaven and Earth to obtain the first-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They are going to use that selection on a quarterback, but if they want that player to succeed, they’ll need to give him some reliable playmakers. Adam Thielen and DJ Chark are adequate weapons, but neither guy is a long-term solution to their problems. Hyatt might not be the most well-rounded player, but he’d add an explosive element this offense has been missing for quite some time.
Arizona Cardinals
Statistically speaking, Kyler Murray was the worst deep ball thrower in football last year, but that’s not normally the case. He’s usually among the best in the league, so perhaps his struggles last year were partially caused by losing Christian Kirk. DeAndre Hopkins is likely to be released in the coming days, and Rondale Moore has not played up to his draft status. Gaining a true vertical threat could be the best thing in the world for Murray, especially considering he probably won’t be as mobile as usual next year thanks to his torn ACL.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints have their WR1 of the future in Chris Olave, but they still need to find a young, adequate starter on the other side. Even if Michael Thomas stays healthy, he’s not the type of guy that can stretch a defense, so Hyatt could still fit in and play in three-receiver sets. With Olave and the rookie on the outside and an adequate quarterback in Derek Carr, the Saints could have one of the better deep passing attacks in 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs love speed, and they have a desperate need at wide receiver. After Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman departed in free agency, Kansas City’s current top receivers are Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Skyy Moore. None of these players are particularly great, and Hyatt is a perfect match for Kansas City’s offense. While he obviously won’t be able to replicate Tyreek Hill’s production, he should see a good number of deep targets from the best quarterback in football.
Dallas Cowboys
This is probably the earliest Jalin Hyatt could realistically go in the NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys already have a speedy deep threat in Brandin Cooks, but he is anything but a long-term fix at the position. The former first-round pick will probably be around for just one or two more seasons, so it makes all the sense in the world for the Cowboys to draft and develop his eventual replacement.
Main Photo: Brianna Paciorka – USA Today Sports
