When the Giants look to repeat their success from last season in 2023, all eyes will understandably be on quarterback Daniel Jones given his sizeable extension signed in March. The team’s new-look receiving corps will be a key determining factor in their offensive improvement, though, meaning training camp developments amongst their pass-catchers are worth watching closely.
New York entered the offseason in need of an established playmaker in the passing game, and they acquired one in the form of Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller. The former Raven and Raider has impressed since being traded to New York, and he is expected to operate as the focal point of the Giants’ passing game moving forward. At the wide receiver spot, though, plenty is yet to be determined. 
New York declined to make a sizeable splash on the open market, with their biggest moves being the addition of Parris Campbell and re-signing of Darius Slayton. During the draft, they added one of the class’ more intriguing prospects, third-rounder Jalin Hyatt. The latter was one of several WR targets for the Giants in April, and the team was prepared to use its second-round selection on the speedster.
Hyatt found himself on the third-string offense for much of the spring, but things have changed since then. The Tennessee alum is now seeing reps with the starters, as noted by Dan Duggan of The Athletic (subscription required). Hyatt, the 2022 Biletnikoff winner as college football’s top receiver, recorded 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns in the Volunteers’ high-octane offense, but questions about his ability to transition from that scheme to the NFL had tempered his 2023 expectations. Now, though, signficant playing time appears to be in the cards.
The same cannot be said of the Giants’ longest-tenured player. Sterling Shepard finds himself on the roster bubble, Duggan notes. The 30-year-old suffered an ACL tear in 2022, which limited him to just three games played and added further to his history of signficant injuries. He was brought back on a low-cost deal, but the Giants would incur no financial penalty if they elected to include him among the final roster cuts.
Shepard is currently behind Cole Beasley on the depth chart, Duggan adds, which is certainly concerning with respect to the former’s job security. Beasley avoided a second retirement by heading to New York and reuniting with Brian Daboll in the process. The current Giants head coach served as the Bills’ offensive coordinator during Beasley’s most productive seasons, but expectations are still low given the latter’s age (34) and lack of playing time last season.
Preseason will go a long way in settling the WR pecking order in New York. The fact that Hyatt has come a long way toward a starting role, and that Shepard has work to do simply to make the roster, however, are notable storylines to follow as the rest of the summer plays out.
Hyatt has some immense potential, it’ll be interesting to see whether he’s able to diversify his route tree and become more of an all-around WR, or whether he will JUST be a deep threat.
Highlight that just because he could still be special even only as a deep threat. Hyatt can definitely ball, I just think he needs some better technical coaching.
Tennessee’s offense is really good at the college level, but it is a bit gimmicky, and their players don’t quite get the same level of development as with other schools.
This isn’t a knock on the Vols players, it just is what it is. It is the ONLY reason Hyatt fell as far as he did.
Still though, sometimes getting someone that’s raw in their development is better than someone who’s been coached up with bad habits.
Hard to believe Shepard is 30 yrs old already…never would’ve guess that
Well, he was on the Boat Trip with his friends Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz all those years ago.
I’m not sure what the Giants saw in D. Jones last year. Average at best QB.
Jones did improve from 26th to 15th in passer rating so that was a positive enough sign I guess. Russell Wilson went from 5th to 27th so he was an epic disaster.
And pre tell who would you rather have at QB that would fit both the teams offensive scheme and provide some long term upside….
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I have a very hard time believing Cole Beasley is ahead of Shepard on the depth chart unless Shepard is still battling injuries. Beasley has one foot out of football at this point.
Shepard is coming back from injury…why are you surprised that a 30 year old might have issues being the same player he promised to be when he was in his late 20’s…..Beasley, may just be a real find…he always had a knack for finding the soft spot in the zone, and has great hands……he killed us when he was on Dallas….
Cole has a great attitude and work ethic too. He’ll do any grunt work a coach asks him to do while a lot of the prima donna WRs whine when they are asked to do that stuff.