Ravens’ top rookie named a ‘matchup nightmare’ in 2022
By Kristen Wong
The Baltimore Ravens drafted an impressive class of rookies in 2022, but one perhaps stands out above the rest.
With the 14th pick, the Ravens took safety Kyle Hamilton, adding lasting talent to their already stacked secondary for the foreseeable future.
Widely hailed as the Ravens’ crown jewel, Hamilton was projected to be a top-ten pick but slid down the board, and Baltimore shrewdly snatched him up in the first round.
The Ravens drafting Hamilton spells the most doom for current safety Chuck Clark, who could be out of a starting job by midseason. Hamilton’s unicorn skillset hasn’t been lost on anyone in the league, and many NFL pundits believe Hamilton will be a bonafide star in Year 1.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay recently revealed the 2022 rookies who could become immediate matchup nightmares and had Baltimore’s Hamilton at the top of his list.
"“Hamilton has a bit of work to do when it comes to his anticipation and he can look vulnerable to certain routes when he’s on an island in coverage. Those are ultimately minor knocks on a player who has Pro Bowl potential in his rookie year.Expect Hamilton to serve as a key piece of a secondary that has potential to rival the peak “Legion of Boom” Seattle Seahawks in their collective fearsomeness and effectiveness.”"
The Ravens’ defense will be widely feared in 2022 with golden rookie Kyle Hamilton
What can be said about Hamilton that hasn’t been said already?
The Notre Dame product is without a question the top safety of the 2022 draft class and may be the most impressive athlete of all positions in the draft.
Hamilton thrives in press and man coverage and will do wonders for Baltimore’s tackling rate, which looked its worst at the end of the 2021 season when the Ravens were essentially playing with a practice squad secondary.
Heading into 2022, the Ravens likely won’t have to worry about the state of their pass defense anymore. Elite starters Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey will retake the field at cornerback, and Hamilton will potentially assume a free safety role while Marcus Williams plays strong safety.
Next. 4 moves the Ravens must make following the 2022 NFL Draft. dark
Best of luck to Ja’Marr Chase, Amari Cooper, and the other top wideouts of the league who will face Hamilton and a revamped Ravens’ secondary in 2022.