Jalin Hyatt switches to Odell Beckham's Giants number, wants to start 'own legacy'

Soon after he was drafted by the Giants this year, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt was sent a video message by Odell Beckham Jr. asking him not to “break all my records in your rookie year.”
Hyatt at least will match one of OBJ’s numbers, officially switching from No. 84 to No. 13 for his initial NFL campaign — the jersey number Beckham wore during his five accomplished seasons with the Giants from 2014-18.
Wide receiver David Sills had worn No. 13 last season and during training camp until he was cut this week.
“I grew up being an Odell fan, and he’s always been a [favorite] receiver of mine,” Hyatt said after practice Wednesday in East Rutherford. “But it’s not even about the jersey number that he wore as the reason I want to wear it.
“I want to start my own legacy with it, with 13, and I think that’s why I’m gonna roll with it.”
Hyatt, the Giants’ third-round pick out of Tennessee, met Beckham for the first time in Atlantic City during the pre-draft process, joking “at first I was surprised he even knew who I was.”
But Hyatt certainly knew Beckham, who became the first NFL rookie to haul in at least 90 receptions and 10 receiving touchdowns in 2014.
It also marked the first of four 1,000-yard receiving years in Beckham’s five seasons with the Giants before he was traded to the Browns in 2019.
After tearing his ACL in Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in February 2022, the three-time Pro Bowler is attempting a comeback this season with the Ravens.
“What he did here, he had a great career here when he was with the Giants, kind of took over. I was a fan when I was young — high school, college to now being here,” the 21-year-old Hyatt said. “I like low numbers. My college number was 11, but it’s retired here [for Phil Simms], and I thought 13 would be a good option.
“I decided to make the change, and I’m excited to go out there Week 1 [against the Cowboys] with that jersey on and do what I do.”
Hyatt has shown an ability to get deep during training camp, something the Giants’ receiving corps lacked last season. He finished the preseason slate with five receptions for 31 yards and one touchdown in three games.
“I think he’s made a ton of progress and worked really hard to do it,” quarterback Daniel Jones said Wednesday. “Large credit to him and how he’s gone about his work. He’s made a tremendous amount of progress, and he’s shown out throughout camp, making plays. So we’ll continue to work towards improvement all together, and he’s in a good spot.”
Jones added that the acclimation period for rookie receivers isn’t always smooth or immediate, but Hyatt has impressed him with his willingness to learn and adapt.
“For any rookie, it’s just coming in and learning an NFL offense, the passing concepts, the routes you’re running,” Jones said. “For all rookie receivers, it’s a lot different than what they’re used to.
“So I think that’s the big thing, just learning the concepts, learning the playbook and the details from the routes and how to work against certain looks and how to feel space in the zone and against man coverage, and he’s been learning all of that.”
Hyatt also believes he’s “seen a lot of growth” in his game from rookie minicamp in May to his approaching NFL debut Sept. 10.
“It starts with the guys you go against in practice every day. We have some great competitors. It starts with your habits, and I’ve learned some good habits here,” Hyatt said. “Being in the film room and with D.J., I’m just trying to connect with everything and get a rhythm with myself and get comfortable with the playbook and the offense, and do whatever they need me to do.”