The New York Giants find themselves once again in the eye of a storm, and this time, it’s not about quarterback drama, coaching issues, or ownership decisions—it’s about the misuse, or perhaps outright neglect, of one of the brightest young talents they have on their roster. Former Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, a player who arrived in the NFL with tremendous promise, electrifying speed, and game-changing ability, seems to be stuck in a situation that feels less like development and more like a hostage scenario. The Giants are holding him back, limiting his opportunities, and by doing so, they are not only stunting his growth as a player but also robbing fans of the chance to watch one of the most dynamic wideouts from college football in recent years blossom into the professional star he was destined to be. This is not just a football operations blunder—it is a decision that should leave Giants fans, Tennessee fans, and football enthusiasts as a whole shaking their heads in frustration.
When Hyatt played at Tennessee, his reputation was built on breathtaking performances that turned him into a household name almost overnight. His breakout against Alabama—arguably one of the single greatest wide receiver performances in college football history—showed the world that this was no ordinary wideout. Hyatt displayed a rare combination of track-star speed, smooth route-running, and the ability to burn even the best defensive backs deep down the field. That season he went on to win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver, cementing himself as one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the country. For Tennessee, he was not only a star, he was a savior who elevated their program back into national relevance. Many believed the NFL would allow him to showcase those same gifts on the biggest stage, where his ability to change the momentum of games with one play could thrive. And yet, the Giants have turned him into an afterthought, a player sitting on the sidelines while lesser talents continue to eat up targets.
The Giants’ offense has struggled for years, plagued by a lack of explosive weapons, inconsistent quarterback play, and an offensive line that collapses faster than it should. So when Hyatt was drafted, fans expected him to be the answer to at least one of those issues—the speed threat who could stretch the field and open up the offense. Instead, the Giants have handled him like a fragile experiment, rarely drawing up plays designed for him, barely giving him targets, and often leaving him on the field without so much as a glance from the quarterback. How does a player who once humiliated Alabama’s secondary not even get a chance to test NFL defenses consistently? It makes no sense, and it reeks of organizational incompetence.
This is not just about development either. Some may argue the Giants are trying to ease Hyatt into the league, but the reality is other rookie and young receivers across the NFL are being given opportunities to shine. Look at what players like Puka Nacua, Jordan Addison, or Zay Flowers were able to do when their teams gave them the chance. Even if Hyatt was not perfect in his first outings, the only way for a young wideout to improve is to actually get the ball thrown his way in meaningful situations. Instead, Hyatt is often left running decoy routes, watching Daniel Jones check down to a running back or tight end, or watching other wide receivers with less speed and less separation ability eat up his snaps. That is not development—that is mismanagement.
The frustrating part for fans is that it feels deliberate. It is as if the Giants do not know how to use him, or worse, they do not trust him. But why draft a player with elite speed and proven production if you’re not going to design your offense around what he does best? Giants coaches preach versatility, execution, and reliability, but sometimes football is not about playing it safe—it’s about taking chances, creating mismatches, and allowing your explosive playmakers to change the game. Hyatt has proven he can do exactly that. Keeping him chained to the sidelines or using him as nothing more than a body on the field is essentially holding him hostage in an offense that refuses to set him free.
There is also a deeper issue here: what message does this send to players? If you’re a young receiver coming into the league, and you see a talent like Hyatt wasting away because of conservative play-calling and unimaginative offensive strategy, how can you trust that the Giants are the right place to develop? It makes free agents think twice, and it frustrates the locker room when someone with clear ability is ignored. Fans have not been blind to this either. On social media, Tennessee supporters and Giants fans alike have voiced their confusion and outrage at Hyatt’s lack of usage. Some even joke that the Giants might as well trade him back to Tennessee if they’re not going to use him. That is how ridiculous it has become—college fans would rather see him back in orange than rotting away in blue.
And yet, this problem runs deeper than Hyatt alone. The Giants’ offensive philosophy has been outdated for years. They talk about wanting to modernize and add explosiveness, but their play-calling is still riddled with safe, horizontal concepts that do nothing but pad the stat line of short-yardage plays. Hyatt is the kind of weapon who forces defenses to back up, who creates spacing for everyone else on the field, and who gives his quarterback an easy bailout option with his ability to win deep. And still, the Giants rarely take those shots. They claim to be protecting their quarterback by keeping things conservative, but in reality, they are hurting the entire offense by refusing to use their best vertical threat. It is football malpractice, plain and simple.
Jalin Hyatt deserves better, and so do the fans. Watching him dominate Saturdays only to be silenced on Sundays is beyond frustrating. Giants coaches and front office staff need to be held accountable for this, because wasting young talent is one of the worst sins an NFL team can commit. Great organizations maximize their players’ abilities. Look at how Andy Reid uses his speedy receivers in Kansas City, or how Kyle Shanahan builds creative plays for his weapons in San Francisco. Even in less glamorous situations, smart coaches find ways to get their best players involved. The Giants have not done that with Hyatt, and until they change, the criticism will keep growing.
If this continues, the Giants may even risk losing Hyatt mentally. Confidence is everything for a wide receiver. If you constantly run routes without being targeted, if you constantly know the game plan doesn’t involve you, it chips away at your mentality. The Giants cannot afford to crush the spirit of a player with such immense potential. Giving him opportunities is not just about winning games—it’s about ensuring he stays motivated, engaged, and committed to growing with the team.
At the end of the day, football is about giving your best players the ball and trusting them to make plays. Jalin Hyatt has proven time and time again that he is a playmaker. The Giants holding him hostage in their stale, unimaginative offense is one of the most frustrating storylines in the NFL right now, and they should be ashamed of how they’ve handled him. Fans deserve to see Hyatt unleashed, not wasted. Every week that goes by with Hyatt underutilized is another week the Giants waste the prime years of a player who could transform their offense.
So here’s the question: when will the Giants wake up? How long will they continue to sideline Hyatt’s talent before they realize they are only hurting themselves? The longer this goes on, the louder the voices will grow calling for change. And maybe that’s exactly what needs to happen. Fans, former players, analysts, and teammates should not stay silent on this. Hyatt deserves the chance to show the NFL what Tennessee fans already know—that he is special. And if the Giants won’t give him that chance, maybe it’s time to start questioning whether Hyatt’s future should really be in New York at all.
What do you think—are the Giants wasting Jalin Hyatt, or do you believe this is all part of some slow, careful development plan? Should Hyatt demand a trade if this continues, or is it worth being patient and hoping the Giants figure it out? Drop your thoughts in the comments because this is a conversation that needs as many voices as possible. The Giants may be content holding him hostage, but fans shouldn’t sit quietly and let it happen.
