Giants’ Jalin Hyatt Struggles to Find Footing as Rookie QB Jaxson Dart Faces Uphill Battle
There’s no sugarcoating it: Jaxson Dart’s rookie season with the New York Giants has been a rollercoaster. And while the flashes of talent are there, the inconsistency isn’t all on the young quarterback’s shoulders. The reality is, the Giants haven’t surrounded him with the kind of weapons that typically help a rookie QB find his rhythm.
Injuries have hit the Giants' offense hard. With Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo sidelined, the receiving corps has been a patchwork group.
Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, and rookie tight end Theo Johnson have been doing their best, while Tyrone Tracy has chipped in from the backfield. But the attrition has forced second-year wideout Jalin Hyatt into a larger role - and so far, it hasn’t gone well.
Take Sunday’s 29-21 loss to the Washington Commanders. Late in the game, Dart was picked off on a pass intended for Hyatt - a play that quickly became a lightning rod for criticism.
Hyatt was supposed to run a sharp dig route. Instead, he rounded it off, slowing down just enough for Washington defensive back Mike Sainristil to jump the route and snag the interception.
Former NFL lineman and current analyst Brian Baldinger didn’t hold back, calling out Hyatt’s lack of effort on the play. In a video breakdown, Baldinger highlighted the route in detail, pointing out how Dart was let down by his receiver.
“If I was Dart, I’d be livid,” Baldinger said. “This is not how you run a route.”
He added that Dart deserves a chance to work with real playmakers - a pointed critique that speaks volumes about the state of the Giants’ offense.
Hyatt, a former Biletnikoff Award winner, was once seen as a high-upside deep threat when the Giants traded up to draft him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. In fact, the team even considered taking him in the second round before opting for center John Michael Schmitz. But two seasons in, Hyatt’s production hasn’t come close to matching the investment.
His numbers tell the story. Just 36 catches in his career.
This season? Five receptions for 35 yards across eight games.
And perhaps most concerning: of the nine times he’s been targeted this year, three have resulted in interceptions. That’s a staggering ratio for any receiver, let alone one known for his speed and supposed big-play ability.
On the interception against Washington, Hyatt actually had a step on Sainristil. But instead of planting and cutting sharply, he failed to drop his weight and drifted through the route - a technical flaw that turned a potential completion into a turnover. For a player whose calling card is speed, the route-running detail just hasn’t followed.
Earlier this offseason, Russell Wilson even compared Hyatt to Tyler Lockett - a compliment that, in hindsight, feels more aspirational than accurate. The Giants have clearly dialed back Hyatt’s role, and it’s hard to ignore the sense that the coaching staff no longer views him as a reliable option. Still, there’s been no move to cut ties, possibly because general manager Joe Schoen is hesitant to give up on another recent draft pick.
When Hyatt was drafted, the label was “one-trick pony” - a burner who could stretch the field. Now, nearly three years in, that trick hasn’t materialized. What was supposed to be a dynamic deep threat has turned into a player struggling to stay on the field, let alone make an impact.
The Giants’ offense is in transition, and Dart is trying to find his footing in a tough situation. But for that to happen, New York needs more from its supporting cast - especially from players like Hyatt, who were brought in to help unlock the vertical element of the passing game. Instead, he’s become a liability in critical moments.
With the season winding down and roster decisions looming, the writing may already be on the wall. Unless something changes quickly, it’s hard to imagine Hyatt still wearing blue in 2026.