The Baltimore Ravens entered 2025 with one of the most talented defenses in the NFL, but the season quickly unraveled into a total nightmare. This year, though, the unit looks entirely different. At the center of it all is the generational talent that is Kyle Hamilton.
Hamilton is among the best safeties in the NFL. Almost no one can match what he brings to the table every week. As head coach Jesse Minter prepares to have Baltimore’s defense do a complete 180, Hamilton could have his best season yet in 2026.
And what could his final form be? Maybe a Defensive Player of the Year winner. That hasn’t been done by a safety since 2010 when Troy Polamalu did it with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that’s exactly what Sports Illustrated writer Conor Orr predicts Hamilton to do in his 100 bold predictions for 2026. Orr wrote:
""While Chargers safety Derwin James has always been excellent, he became more of a complete force under Jesse Minter in Minter’s two seasons as defensive coordinator in Los Angeles. James broke a streak of Pro Bowls and second-team All-Pro nominations the year before Minter’s arrival and went on to restart that streak in addition to sharpening some already spectacular individual stats…All of that to say that Kyle Hamilton is younger (25), a little more physically gifted and has what you could argue is a better surrounding cast for Minter to play with.""Conor Orr
Baltimore Ravens defensive leader could be in range of historic NFL accomplishment
Ever since Kyle Hamilton has blossomed into a perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro, he’s garnered plenty of attention in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. We predicted he would take home that honor last year, but he failed to even receive votes as Baltimore’s defense was atrocious, and Myles Garrett put together a record-breaking campaign that led to a unanimous decision. 2026 could have a different story in store, though.
As Orr mentioned in his breakdown, Hamilton gets to work with one of the best, if not the best, defensive minds in football. It can’t be understated how astronomically better the Ravens’ defense will be transitioning from a Zach Orr-coached defense to a Minter-coached one. He’ll undoubtedly work his magic on Hamilton just as he did with Derwin James on the Los Angeles Chargers. Somehow, the already three-time All-Pro could reach a new peak.
Still, is it fair to say that DPOY honors could be out of Hamilton’s reach? Quite possibly. There’s a reason why a safety hasn’t won the award since Troy Polamalu in 2010. The position group just doesn’t get the same attention as others. It’s usually a pass rusher’s award to lose. Hamilton’s impact goes far beyond the regular safety, though.
Hamilton is a positionless player, and that versatility kind of mirrors Polamalu in some ways. He’s a defensive weapon who causes issues for opposing offenses in pretty much every way imaginable. He can creep up close to the line of scrimmage and wreck the run game, and he possesses elite instincts in coverage, too. He’s impossible to figure out and seems to keep leveling up.
Overall, there’s not much stopping Hamilton from joining the likes of Polamalu, Bob Sanders, and Ed Reed as recent safeties to win DPOY. He’s got more than enough talent, and he gets all the recognition for his efforts, too. If the Ravens can rebuild themselves as an elite defensive team in 2026, then Hamilton should be a staple in award conversations by season’s end.
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