Jalin Hyatt adds muscle, targets breakout year with Giants

The New York Giants understand the significance of the 2025 season for the franchise’s direction, and one offensive player might hold the key to sparking their attack. Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt revealed on the Giants Huddle podcast that he’s undergone a noticeable physical transformation ahead of the new campaign.

Hyatt recently discussed the steps he’s taken to climb back up the Giants’ receiver depth chart, highlighting a major physical change. “I played at like 170, 171 last year, I’m about 194, 195 now,” Hyatt said. “I’m telling you, that’s what darkness does to you. It changes you.”

This offseason, Hyatt focused on bulking up without sacrificing his signature speed, committing to a training plan that helped him add size while preserving his explosiveness.

“Speed will stay there, but for me it’s just learning to run at this weight, learning to play faster, play bigger, play stronger through contact,” the 23-year-old remarked. “I felt like that was one of the things that I needed to work on from last season, just felt weak. So I just had to get stronger.”

The Giants picked Hyatt in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, hoping his speed and athleticism would elevate their offense. His first season showed flashes of that potential, as he recorded 23 receptions for 373 yards, even with the team’s constant quarterback issues.

Rather than building on his rookie campaign, Hyatt struggled to make an impact in his second year. He was targeted only 19 times, hauling in eight catches for 62 yards. That placed him ninth on the team in both receptions and yardage—far from what the Giants had envisioned for the 23-year-old wideout.

Hyatt sustained an injury during practice a few weeks back and will remain out until training camp. That timeline makes his upcoming competition at wide receiver even more critical. A strong showing once camp begins could indicate he’s on track for a breakout year.

The Giants are working to better prepare Jalin Hyatt for a larger role this season, including plans to move him around more within the offense. Hyatt has already spoken with the coaching staff about these adjustments and recognizes that physical improvements alone won’t be enough.

He admitted he didn’t maximize his chances last year and understands that progress must also come mentally. The numbers support his self-assessment—his catch rate dropped by 15 percentage points and his yards per catch fell from 16.2 to 7.8, highlighting a sharp decline in efficiency despite limited opportunities.

Over two months remain before the 2025 season begins, giving Jalin Hyatt a valuable window to prove that his offseason adjustments can lead to more opportunities and better results on the field.