The New York Giants selected wide receiver Jailn Hyatt in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft. After a semi-promising rookie year, the speedy deep threat regressed in his sophomore season. The team gave him several opportunities to win the second out-receiver position next to Malik Nabers, but ultimately Hyatt fell to veteran Darius Slayton. In an all-around disappointing season, Hyatt expressed frustration over playing time. He was hardly on the field. He finished 2024 with just eight catches and 62 yards. Now with Russell Wilson at quarterback, 2025 becomes a make-or-break season for Jailyn Hyatt.
2025 is a Make or Break Season for this Jalin Hyatt
Are Wilson and Hyatt a perfect match?
Reports from Giants OTAs indicate that Hyatt has been a favorite target of Wilson’s. Keep in mind that Hyatt is in for the injured Malik Nabers, but the quarterback went out of his way to mention Hyatt by name in several offseason interviews. The 10-time pro-bowler sees untapped potential in the speedy deep threat.
Furthermore, Wilson is the perfect quarterback for a player like Jailyn Hyatt. Even at this stage of his career, Wilson remains one of the NFL’s best deep passers, specifically toward the sidelines. This meshes perfectly with Hyatt’s strengths.
As a scrawny receiver, he is often pushed off the line of scrimmage against press coverage. In turn, he relies on using the sideline on deep routes where losing leverage at the line of scrimmage is less important. Hyatt’s rookie season was highlighted by several alert routes where he lined up one-on-one on the outside with no safety help. The quarterback checks the call pre-snap and floats the ball 25+ air yards to the sideline. Hyatt uses his speed to track the ball and generally displays exceptional footwork to stay in bounds.
Jalin Hyatt is a PLAYMAKER. Feed 13!#NYGiants #NYG #Giants pic.twitter.com/hoExdORyb0
— Fireside Giants (@FiresideGiants) October 22, 2023
As for Wilson, he led the NFL in 2024 in deep ball completion percentage (54%) and a league-best 97.3 PFF grade on throws over 20+ yards. A majority of these throws were towards the sideline. This is not a declaration that Wilson is still an elite player. At this stage of his career, he takes sacks and struggles to produce in the middle, short, and intermediate parts of the field. However, these metrics show that Wilson and Hyatt could be successful together.
What is Considered a Breakout Season for Hyatt?
The best basis of comparison for Hyatt, who after all will still be the team’s third receiver, is Calvin Austin. With Wilson at the helm, Austin finished 2024 with 36 catches, 548 yards, and four touchdowns on 15.2 yards per reception. Austin runs a similar route tree as Hyatt. He has 4.3 speed and relies on beating coverage vertically in space. Expect Hyatt to be used similarly this season if he can find his way onto the field.
As a rookie, Hyatt had 23 catches for 373 yards with spotty quarterback play. Still, he was fourth in the league with 16.3 yards per reception while starting just seven games. It’s not fair to assume Hyatt will suddenly turn into a 1,000 yard receiver. However, his 2023 film suggests that there is suitable untapped NFL talent. His open field speed makes him dangerous for defenders and it’s up to Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka to fit him into the scheme.
He doesn’t need to be an every down player, or even a starter. But there’s no reason a player of his caliber shouldn’t be approaching 500 yards most seasons. If Hyatt can do that starting in 2025, then he will have a role on the team for the duration of his rookie contract. Turning into a useful player is the goal for Jailyn Hyatt in this make or break season.
Hyatt’s Best Opportunity
2025 isn’t just a breakout opportunity. It may be Hyatt’s final shot to prove he belongs as a key piece of the Giants’ future. With a new QB finally in place and defenses distracted elsewhere, the opportunity is clear. Teams are going to be focused on the threat of Malik Nabers, who can hurt teams at any level of the field, as well as Darius Slayton’s vertical ability in his own right. The pieces are set for the former Fred Biletnikoff Award winner to establish himself as a true deep threat for the Giants. 2025 is officially a make-or-break season for Jailyn Hyatt.
Main Image: John Jones – USA Today Sports
