Jalin Hyatt Drops to the Third Round

The draft stock of Jalin Hyatt is falling.

Not even a month ago, in the article, “Former NFL Scout Not Sold on Jalin Hyatt,” I put a second-round grade on this Tennessee receiver.

After another three game study of his 2022 game film, I have adjusted that grade, and I find myself preferring his teammate, receiver Cedric Tillman.

Hyatt reminds me too much of Cardinals’ receiver Robbie Anderson, who went undrafted out of Temple, and is now on his third NFL team in eight seasons.

He is higher profile than Anderson was coming out of college, which is why The 33rd Team, The Ringer, Draftwire, NBC Sports Chicago, Pro Football Network, CBS, The Draft Network, The Athletic, 247 Sports, Barstool Sports, For the Win and Sports Illustrated all have placed first-round grades on him.

As a former NFL Scout, I can’t get into Hyatt. He doesn’t excite me.

Hyatt dogs it too much.

He strikes me as someone who is a byproduct of a good Tennessee team and someone who has been coasting on his natural God-given talent.

Hyatt looked like two different receivers

There is a noticeable difference in his route running when he is the primary receiver versus when he’s not.

No question Hyatt has straight-line speed to burn and he has the necessary athletic ability to make quick changes of direction at route break points.

That’s the frustrating part.

Numerous times Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker looked Hyatt’s direction, but he was not going all out in his route running, which caused Hooker to have to either run or take a sack.

The most outrageous illustration of this was against Alabama on a critical 4th and 3 at the end of the game. Hyatt put it on cruise control, couldn’t get separation, Hooker looked his way before getting sacked.

On the reps he was the primary receiver, he looks like a first-round draft choice driving into his routes, showing off his second-gear of acceleration and making nice crisp changes of direction.

It’s a real concern.

Hyatt shines on the easy ones

Point blank, he looks best when he is either wide open, or when he is able to get behind the defense.

Hyatt shows an average catch radius and even less effort when the pass is not right on the money.

This was especially when he goes deep.

Deep passes need to be out in front of him due to the fact he struggled on contested passes, and he had trouble adjusting and being able to high-point the ball in tight coverage.

What’s his NFL forecast?

I haven’t watched the weather forecast in over twenty years.

There’s a 50-50 chance of everything, just as there is a 50-50 chance of Hyatt having a good pro career.

While speed does kill, I can’t get into the laziness in his route running that keeps showing up. He additionally can’t pick up much yardage after short-range passes.

It’s been reported his 40-yard-dash time has been clocked in the high 4.2 to low 4.3 range.

Anderson (my comp) ran a 4.36.

The other concern is Hyatt had one big season in college.

He caught 67 passes in 2022, after catching 21 in 2021 and 20 in 2020.

Anderson also had one big year in his NFL career (2020: 95 receptions in Carolina).

#11 Jalin Hyatt 6-foot-0, 180 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Third-Round (I would not select him)

Projected by 18.8% (up from 8.8% on November 19) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of December 18, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Bust Probability: Medium

2022 game film reviewed: LSU, Georgia, and Kentucky (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: High

2022 stats: 67 receptions (91 targets and a 74% catch rate), 1,267 yards, (18.9 avg.), 15 TD, 78-long

NFL Comparable: Robbie Anderson

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Lanky and muscular with long arms, good hands, acceleration, elite speed, but an average catch radius. Lined up in the slot or stacked. Looks like a track star releasing and accelerating into straight-line vertical routes. Has second-gear. Inconsistent polish on route running. Showed choppy quick feet, but does slightly labor at breakpoints. Excels at slants and deep routes. Sets up to catch short screens, but gets tackled quickly. Willing blocker. A draft day gamble.

Final words

He’s a one-trick pony who can get deep and I don’t think he will be able to run wide-open as often in the NFL.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.