Jalin Hyatt trade wish surfaces after barely playing for Giants

As second-year receiver Jalin Hyatt continues to wait for his chance with the Giants, evidence of frustration with his role in the team’s offense dates back to the summer — even before he was held without a reception and just one target in the team’s first two games of the season.

A source confirmed an ESPN report that Hyatt essentially said during a workout in August that the Giants should trade him if they didn’t plan on using him this season.

Asked about the incident before Friday’s practice, Giants coach Brian Daboll said: “He never said that to me, so … Jalin is probably one of the closest guys I’m with on this team. You’d have to ask Jalin that.”

The Giants traded a fourth-round pick to move up in the third round to draft Hyatt from Tennessee with the 73rd overall pick in the 2023 draft.

He finished his rookie season with 23 receptions for 373 yards (16.2 per reception), showing glimpses of an ability to stretch defenses and get down the field, including five receptions for 109 yards in a 10-7 victory over the Patriots on Nov. 26.

But the team selected Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick in the draft, and Hyatt, 22, also was stuck behind backups Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson during the Giants’ 0-2 start heading into Sunday’s road game against the Browns.

“(Hyatt) has his role, and his staff — Nabers, Slayton and Wan’Dale — we’ve got that covered, they’re the starters,” Daboll said. “He has a role. When his number is called, he’s ready to play. He’s in a good mood.”

“Jalin, me and the receivers talk every day. We meet often. I have a lot of confidence in Jalin. Jalin knows that. So when he has a chance to make a play, he goes out there and makes a play.”

Asked if Hyatt’s explosiveness could be an asset to Daniel Jones and the offense, Daboll added: “I would say we have four explosive guys. I think Wan’Dale is explosive, Nabers is explosive, Slayton is explosive, Hyatt is explosive.

“Again, they all have a role to play. Those guys play a little bit more than Jalin, but when Jalin gets his chance, we definitely have a lot of confidence in him.”

— Additional reporting by Ryan Dunleavy