Jalin Hyatt didn’t find any solace in his make-up touchdown.
Needing to solidify not only his offseason standing as the Giants’ No. 4 receiver but his roster spot ahead of cut day, Hyatt flashed his rare speed Thursday and snared a 27-yard touchdown pass from Jameis Winston in the first quarter of a 42-10 victory against the Patriots.
It was a big slice of redemption during a pivotal moment in Hyatt’s career, as two deep shots to him from Jaxson Dart earlier in the game fell incomplete.
One pass hit Hyatt’s shoulder pad as he fought through uncalled pass interference and another bounced off his hands as a defender got an arm in for a break-up.
“It felt good [to score] … but disappointed in my performance,” a solemn Hyatt said. “Felt like I could’ve made more plays out there. It wasn’t the DBs at all. Both of them were beautiful [passes]. I have to come down with those.”
Hyatt, who finished with three catches for 38 yards on six targets, held up four fingers to the MetLife Stadium crowd — a tribute to a late childhood friend — as the end-zone exclamation mark to what head coach Brian Daboll described as a “big week” for the 2023 third-round pick.
“I just have to correct some things,” Hyatt said. “Attack the ball, things I know I can do.”
The Giants have seen enough other depth receivers — Gunner Olszewski, Beaux Collins and Montrell Washington, to name a few — outside of their top three make more plays over the summer than Hyatt that it is possible he could be available for trade over the next four days if they grow tired of waiting on his potential.
He has two touchdown-less regular seasons.
“That’s all up to the front office and how they look through film and what they see,” Hyatt told The Post. “I left some plays out there that I think the coaching staff understands I can make, but I have to be more consistent. That’s the biggest thing for me.”
The free-agent arrival of Russell Wilson — and his Moon Ball — is supposed to be a match for Hyatt’s playmaking.
Wilson told the front office that Hyatt reminds him of former teammates who “only need 3-5 touches to be impactful in the game,” assistant general manager Brandon Brown said earlier this week.
“I’m excited for Jalin,” Brown added. “He’s put in the work — evident by him getting his weight up. I think the relationship with him and Russ is really going to be an opportunity to unlock him. He’s got the ability to keep the secondary honest.”
That’s what showed Thursday as the Patriots paid for trying 1-on-1 coverage against a burner.
“He knows it’s a constant grind, and he knows the talent he has,” Brown said. “He’s just frustrated, and he knows what we put into him in terms of trading up and he wants to put a return on that investment.”
Hyatt, who questioned his future with the Giants at times last season, sounds determined to make it work with a clean slate.
But, if Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson stay healthy, there aren’t many snaps available to develop any No. 4 receiver.
“Seeing how many players have supported me throughout this injury,” Hyatt said, “I’m just glad and blessed to be on this team.”
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