Giants WR Jalin Hyatt has added more than 20 pounds to his frame heading into a crucial third season in New York.
“I played at like 170, 171 last year, I’m about 194, 195 now,” said Hyatt on a recent team podcast (via NFL.com’s Coral Smith). “I’m telling you, that’s what darkness does to you. It changes you.”
The 2023 third-rounder has no intention of losing any of his trademark speed and explained that the added weight is to help him absorb contact as a receiver and ballcarrier.
“I felt like that was one of the things that I needed to work on from last season,” admitted Hyatt.
The 23-year-old also wants to diversify his usage in 2025 – both in terms of alignment and route tree – after lining up out wide and running a lot of vertical routes in his first two seasons. Hyatt specifically talked to Giants head coach Brian Daboll about seeing more time in the slot, where he played a majority of his snaps at the University of Tennessee. New York’s slot role has been dominated by Wan’Dale Robinson since 2023, and the addition of Malik Nabers and Theo Johnson in last year’s draft added more competition.
By his own admission, Hyatt is still adjusting to his bigger frame, but playing above 190 pounds should assist Hyatt in his pursuit for more slot snaps, both as a blocker and as a pass-catcher over the middle of the field.
Here are some other updates out of New York:
- The Giants’ selection of Tyler Nubin in 2024 and addition of Jevon Holland this offseason have pushed 2022 fourth-rounder Dane Belton out of the starting picture in a contract year. However, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen praised Belton’s work in spring practices and said (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan) that the team is “finding ways to get him on the field.” Belton had three interceptions in five practices open to the media, per Raanan, positioning him for a role as the Giants’ third safety on defense.
- Fourth-year TE Daniel Bellinger is expected to make the Giants’ 53-man roster, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, but he will likely be asked to take a pay cut in the process. Bellinger played more than 35% of the team’s offensive snaps in his first two NFL seasons to earn a Level One proven performance escalator, bringing his 2025 salary to $3.4MM, per OverTheCap. However, he ceded playing time to veteran Chris Manhertz last year and saw his snap share reduced to 32%. Giants general manager Joe Schoen has gotten previous PPE qualifiers such as Darnay Holmes and Darius Slayton to take similar pay cuts in the past, and he showed last year with Nick McCloud that he is willing to move on from a player if the price is not right.
- Despite reports of a potential kicking competition in New York, veteran Graham Gano is expected to retain the job despite injuries and inconsistency over the last two years. Irish kicker Jude McAtamney, who filled in for Gano in Week 9 last year, does not have a “real chance to unseat Gano,” per Duggan. McAtamney’s international exemption will allow the Giants to carry him as an extra 17th practice squad player during the season.