Things weren't supposed to turn out this way for former Tennessee football standout Jalin Hyatt. After he took home Biletnikoff Award honors in 2023, the expectation was that he'd go on to flourish with the New York Giants as a Day 2 pick.
Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll even traded up in the third round to go get him. Thus far, though, his time with the G-Men has not gone well and he's going through a brutal summer. On Thursday night, the Giants are in action against the Patriots and Hyatt has two unfortunate drops to his name. With how passionate people in New York and New Jersey are, they're calling for him to get cut.
UPDATE: Hyatt reeled in a 27-yard touchdown from Jameis Winston shortly after this article was published. Will it be enough to keep him in East Rutherford a little while longer?
Jaxson Dart & Jalin Hyatt not able to connect deep pic.twitter.com/PSzalewmxt
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) August 22, 2025
Former Tennessee football star Jalin Hyatt could get cut by the NY Giants this summer
There's a lot of contact there in the clip above, no doubt. When Hyatt got up off the turf, he was looking at the official closest to him to bail him out with a flag, but the laundry never arrived. A quick look on social media indeed shows that Giants supporters across the globe are letting Hyatt have it.
Leading up to the new campaign, Hyatt, who probably still gives Alabama fans nightmares, worked overtime in the weight room and he was hoping his added size would help make the difference for a breakout Year 3 with the NFC East side.
Instead, he's just having way too many issues catching the ball and staying consistent. Daboll and his offensive coaches were expecting Hyatt to take the next step and finally live up to the hype that he had coming out of college in Knoxville. The opposite has been the case.
Jalin Hyatt has not earned a spot on the roster based on his play this summer. Draft investment and lack of quality alternatives behind him probably saves him, but a deep ball specialist has to make these catches.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) August 22, 2025
You've got to feel bad for Hyatt right now. During his senior season with the Vols, he finished with a mind-blowing 67 receptions for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. All signs were pointing to him having a long and successful career, but he might be out of a job with the G-Men before we know it.
In October 2022, Hyatt put together arguably the best game from a wide receiver in Tennessee history, putting on a show in a thrilling win over Alabama. In that victory, he caught six balls for 207 yards and five touchdowns. It was an unreal day at the office. That's what Vols fans are choosing to remember him by. It stings to say, but unless he can turn things around and fast with the Giants, Schoen might have to make a tough call.