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The Giants were open for business again on Friday night and, with general manager Joe Schoen and his staff making a bold move once again, a speed receiver was added after the potential starting center was secured, turning the first two days of the NFL Draft into a rewarding and productive roster-building exercise.
The haul was impressive: Center John Michael Schmitz in the second round, as the Giants stood pat at pick No. 57 and addressed a major need.
And then, Schoen showed that he will do what it takes to get the player he covets.
He moved up from No. 89 to No. 73 in the third round to select speedy wide receiver Jalin Hyatt of Tennessee, sending a fourth round pick to the Rams.
Just like that, the Giants provided quarterback Daniel Jones with a weapon down the field and protection in the pocket.
“It’s like anything,’’ Schoen said. “If you want it and have the resources to get it, go get it. I’ve been on the other side of that when you’re sitting there kicking yourself for not doing something.’’
Schoen and the Giants are not kicking themselves for anything thus far in this draft. In the first round, he moved up one spot, from 25 to 24, to land cornerback Deonte Banks.
Getting Schmitz and Hyatt on Day 2 of the draft was, well, not something Schoen anticipated he could accomplish.
“Not really,’’ Schoen said, laughing. “We were joking around when we got the center, wondering if we could get them both. I told the guys ‘Start making calls.’ ’’
Head coach Brian Daboll actually got into the act, calling Rams coach Sean McVay to see if a deal could be worked out. It happened and afterward Schoen congratulated Daboll for executing his first trade.
Hyatt was a player many thought would be off the board before this.
The Giants felt this way as well, which is why they felt it was necessary to move up 16 spots.
Hyatt has good size and great speed that should make him an immediate deep threat for Jones.
“I feel like I’m the probably best deep threat receiver in this draft,’’ Hyatt said. “The Giants really got a dynamic playmaker, an explosive playmaker.
“I really believe the Giants added somebody who will change the game and I can’t wait to do that and show that.’’
In his one year as a starter for the Volunteers, Hyatt caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards — a gaudy average of 18.8 yards per reception — and 15 touchdowns.
That production put him on the map and convinced the Giants he could be an asset to their receiver corps.
Schoen was at the game last season against Alabama when Hyatt caught five touchdown passes.
Schoen had some travel issues and arrived a bit late and so he watched the first half from the field.
“You could really feel his speed, it’s legit 4.3,’’ Schoen said.
Hyatt joins Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, possibly Sterling Shepard and newcomers Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder in the receiver room.
The Giants this offseason also added pass-catching tight end Darren Waller in a trade with the Raiders.
“Definitely has some qualities you like,’’ Daboll said of Hyatt.
The 6-foot Hyatt played this past season at 175 pounds and has a skinny frame.
He said he is up to around 188 pounds and wants to play in the NFL at 190.
The need for a center arose after the Giants lost last year’s starting center, Jon Feliciano, to the 49ers, and the backup center, Nick Gates, to the Commanders.
Schoen previously expressed confidence that players currently on the roster — Ben Bredeson, Shane Lemieux, Jack Anderson and newly-signed J.C. Hassenauer — could compete for the center job.
By taking Schmitz this high in the draft, Schoen’s actions belied his words, as Schmitz will be expected to start, sooner rather than later.
Schmitz was a four-year starter for the Golden Gophers and, in the eyes of many scouts, the top center in this draft.
He was not the first center to go, though, as the Jets took Joe Tippmann from Wisconsin at No. 43 overall.
There is not much Schmitz failed to accomplish in college.
He was a three-time All-Big Ten player, considered to be an outstanding run blocker who needs some work in his one-on-one pass blocking.
He made all the line calls at Minnesota and the mental aspect of playing offensive line will not be a new deal for him. He allowed two sacks in his college career.
Schmitz mentioned Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen as a player he tries to emulate.
“He’s probably the nastiest person on the field and the way he plays, his mentality, brings it every play,’’ Schmitz said.
Asked if he is nasty on the field, Schmidt said “Yes, yes. That’s the biggest thing I would say. Nasty, tough, grit factor, definitely.’’
