Volunteer Country

How Does Jalin Hyatt Fit In New York's WR Room?

Former Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jalin Hyatt slots in as a potential immediate contributor for the New York Giants.

Brady Penn

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Typically, if you win the Biletnikoff Award, you are bound to be an early draft pick and an immediate contributor. After all, it is awarded to the nation's most outstanding college wide receiver, so it stands to reason that they should become productive NFL players.

There's a strong correlation between recent Biletnikoff winners and NFL success. The previous four recipients before Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt all went in the first round. Jerry Jeudy, Ja'Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, and Jordan Addison, who was in Hyatt's draft class, all heard their names called on the first night. Hyatt did not. He fell to the third round due to concerns about his limited route tree during his time with the Vols. The New York Giants ended his slide, taking him as the No. 73 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Now that Hyatt has a home, what will his role look like as a rookie? Hyatt is No. 11 on the OROTY short-list, slightly behind Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis at +3000. Hyatt's athletic profile could make him a contributor in an otherwise unimpressive New York wide receivers group. If he can impress in the preseason and throughout camp, it would stand to reason that the Giants would increase his reps quickly. The Giants do not have any standout guys out wide and have seen guys like Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard deal with injuries.

In a division with great defensive backs like Darius Slay, Trevon Diggs, and James Bradberry, a deep threat is crucial, if for nothing more than keeping defenses honest. Hyatt provides just that, and I do not think it will be long before we see the South Carolina native making a real impact on Sundays for the G-Men. As rookies across the league embark on the journey of Rookie Mini-Camp, Hyatt is a name to become familiar with as soon as possible for the boys in blue. He is ready to take a bite out of the Big Apple.

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Brady Penn
BRADY PENN

Brady Penn is a writer who has spent multiple years covering sports for multiple publications. Starting with "The Clarion", Brevard College's school publication, where he won an award for Sportswriting from the North Carolina Collegiate Media Association. Brady continues his work with The Clarion, as well as writing for SI's Volunteer Country and writing Braves pieces for SportsTalkATL.com. Brady is a rising Senior at Brevard, where he plays Football and does Play-by-Play broadcasting for BC Baseball, Men's/Women's Basketball and Softball.

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