The Baltimore Ravens drafted Kyle Hamilton in 2022 with the kind of conviction that’s come to define their draft philosophy. They didn’t care that it wasn’t a need. They didn’t care about positional value. They saw a blue-chip safety on the board at No. 14 and took the best player available — just like they always do... it's their thing.
And ever since, all Hamilton has done is prove them right and everyone else who passed on him wrong. The 6-foot-4 do-it-all defensive back has become the nucleus of Baltimore’s secondary and one of the league’s most dominant defenders. He’s already a two-time All-Pro, and this offseason, the Ravens made sure to lock him in by picking up his fifth-year option. It’s not just a formality — it’s an investment in a player who already looks like the best safety in football.
Now, he’s getting the national recognition to match. Pro Football Focus’ Jonathon Macri just ranked Hamilton as the No. 1 defender and No. 3 player on his Top 25 Under 25 list (he was No. 5 last year), behind only Penei Sewell and Puka Nacua. And even that feels like a compliment that sells him short.
Kyle Hamilton gives Ravens defense unmatched versatility
In his writeup, Macri praised Hamilton’s impact, writing, “Hamilton has quickly established himself as one of the league’s top safeties, finishing in the top three at his position in at least one of PFF overall grade, PFF coverage grade and PFF run-defense grade in each of his first three NFL seasons. Hamilton’s versatility makes him one of the most valuable safeties in the league, and he even brings pass-rush upside, having generated 36 pressures and seven sacks in his NFL career.”
There’s no debate: he’s already one of the league’s best. His 2024 stat line — 107 total tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a pick — doesn’t even capture his real impact. He lines up everywhere. He deletes tight ends. He blitzes like a linebacker. He covers like a corner. And he makes every player around him better.
Now, the Ravens are hoping that includes Malaki Starks. The first-round rookie from Georgia is expected to slot in next to Hamilton as the second safety in Baltimore’s new-look secondary. It’s a pairing that could define the defense’s identity for the next five-plus years — and nobody is better positioned to help accelerate Starks’ transition than Hamilton.
While Starks is a rangy center-fielder who thrives deep and in coverage, Hamilton gives the Ravens unmatched flexibility near the line. The Ravens have built their backend around hybrid defenders who can rotate and disguise coverages, and now they could have two who can do it at a high level. One of them just happens to be the best in the league at it.
Baltimore’s defense will feel different this year — some new coaches, a revamped secondary, and real pressure to prove they can close games in January. But Hamilton gives them the one thing every elite defense needs: a bonafide star who can carry the team, no matter what pieces are around him. And at just 24 years old, the possibilities are endless.