Welcome to SKOL Search!
This series will be your guide to the 2023 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.
The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at wide receiver, running back, cornerback and both interior and edge pass rusher.
The Vikings are slated to have four picks before compensatory selections are awarded and they need to make the most out of them.
Background
Jalin Hyatt
- Height-6’0″
- Weight-185 lbs
- 4-Star recruit per 247 Sports
- Stats: 108 receptions, 1,6769 yards, 19 touchdowns
- Games watched: Pitt 2022, Florida 2022, LSU 2022, Alabama 2022
Strengths
Hyatt is a one-trick pony, but that trick is incredible. He is a true speed demon that burned teams consistently. Against Nick Saban, he torched the Crimson Tide for over 200 yards and five touchdowns. How did he do that? Speed. It’s real and incredible.
I have no idea how Jalin Hyatt will do against press coverage, but he did this to a Nick Saban defense pic.twitter.com/QsFSEuypIo
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) December 7, 2022
Along with his great speed, Hyatt is a natural hands catcher. When the ball gets thrown his way, he catches it with soft hands and doesn’t use his body. Hyatt also does a good job working back to the ball on hitch routes.
Blocking is also a plus ability for Hyatt. Tennessee’s offensive system requires their receivers to block. He is willing and uses good hands and leverage. They even lined him up as a wing-back off the tackle and had him block in jumbo sets.
Weaknesses
The main causes for concerns with Hyatt are focused on the system that Josh Heupel and Alex Golesh installed. They run a very gimmicky offense that utilizes only a few routes which don’t translate great to the NFL right away. It also has receivers lining up in non-traditional ways. He was mainly used as a slot receiver, but also lined up outside. The difficulty in translating this system, which lines their receivers up outside the numbers, makes this evaluation difficult.
Along with that system, Hyatt hasn’t had to deal with press coverage. When in open space running routes, he can get knocked off of his axis easily. When he sells routes vertically, Hyatt has a tendency to get clunky with his movements. He takes choppy steps and doesn’t have the smoothest transitions. Hyatt doesn’t have a lot of experience in contested catches and I’m not convinced that he will be great at it when he gets to the next level.
Overview
| Hands | 8.3/10 |
| Release | 8/10 |
| Route Running | 10.6/15 |
| Separation | 14.6/15 |
| Contested Catches | 7.4/10 |
| Tracking | 7.5/10 |
| Body Control | 7.9/10 |
| YAC Ability | 9/10 |
| Agility | 8.1/10 |
| Grade | 81.4/100 Second Round |
Hyatt is a throwback Al Davis prospect. His blazing speed would have had Davis taking him in top 10 as he did with Darrius Heyward-Bey in the 2009 NFL draft.
Finishing up Jalin Hyatt’s evaluation and he would have been the exact type of player Al Davis took in the top 10
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) December 7, 2022
Being that he’s a one-trick pony, Hyatt might never develop as a true wide receiver. While that development happens, his speed will be a tremendous asset.
The question is: will he be a really good wide receiver or just a gadget guy? That will be what general managers wrestle with over the next few months. I personally didn’t see enough that tell me he will be a complete wide receiver, but the speed is remarkable and he’s good in the open field.
