Losing rookie Teddye Buchanan to a season-ending injury has left a sizeable hole at the heart of the Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker corps, but it can lead to a significant role change for All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton.
Buchanan tearing his ACL during Week 15’s 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals was the main negative from an otherwise standout defensive performance on the road. The injury took away the second-leading tackler on Baltimore’s defense, but Hamilton’s versatile skill-set can usually bail the Ravens out of trouble, and Buchanan’s absence should be no different.
It’s a scenario mapped out by Ravens Wire writer Larry Brown Jr. He suggested “perhaps safety Kyle Hamilton will spend extended plays lined up inside the box to assist with the run stop. This strategy may work considering that the Ravens are now loaded at the Safety position with Gilman, rookie Malaki Starks, and Washington to help in coverage.”
Moving Hamilton down into the box on a more regular basis makes sense, and not just because of his ability to be a force closer to the line of scrimmage. The switch can also change the way the Ravens play base defense, offering a creative wrinkle in time for the final push to the playoffs.
Using Hamilton as a de facto linebacker would even work as a sub-package changeup alongside the Ravens giving another chance to the once highly-touted draft pick Buchanan replaced.
Ravens Will Miss Teddye Buchanan Impact
Buchanan had been living up to the billing as a steal after entering the pros as a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft who became an impact player as a starter. Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Buchanan “did a great job. Nobody is into it more than he is,” per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, who also revealed “The hope is for Buchanan to be back by training camp.”
“He did a great job,” Harbaugh said. “Nobody is into it more than he is.”
The hope is for Buchanan to be back by training camp.
Having Buchanan ready to go next season would be a major boost based on how the former California standout proved a useful three-down ‘backer. Not only was the 23-year-old in on 93 tackles, including 49 solo stops, but Buchanan also blitzed 36 times, generating five pressures, and even allowing 71 air yards on 24 completions, per Pro Football Reference.
Replacing this level of versatility won’t be easy, but Hamilton is the perfect candidate.
Kyle Hamilton Can Make Role Switch Work
Hamilton is flexible enough to be a playmaker at almost any spot on defense. Playing 162 snaps at linebacker through the first 11 games this season, according to Pro Football Focus (h/t Ravens.com Editorial Director Ryan Mink) is proof Hamilton could handle the starting spot.
Having Hamilton line up as a hybrid safety/linebacker means the Ravens would be able to play nickel personnel on base downs. Fellow safeties Gilman and rookie Starks can secure the back end, along with returning breakout star Ar’Darius Washington.
That trio would allow Hamilton the freedom to be a matchup equalizer in coverage against move tight ends, slot receivers and pass-catching running backs. No. 14 would also become a crucial part of the Ravens’ expanding blitz packages if he spent more time near the ball.
There’s greater upside to putting Hamilton in Buchanan’s spot than trusting inconsistent third-year pro Trenton Simpson. He was supposed to start ahead of Buchanan, but Simpson hasn’t been able to translate his obvious athleticism and potential into production.
Simpson’s struggles even led the Ravens to consider shifting him from the inside. That move hasn’t exactly paid off, but Simpson still has the trust of Harbaugh and Hamilton.
It was Hamilton who “gave props to LB Trenton Simpson for stepping in when Teddye Buchanan went down. John Harbaugh says Simpson’s been practicing well, and he has faith in him,” per The Baltimore Banner’s Giana Han.
John Harbaugh says Simpson’s been practicing well, and he has faith in him.
Simpson may get another chance to justify being a top-100 draft pick, but moving Hamilton down to the linebacker level would help the Ravens in more ways.
Kyle Hamilton Tipped to Replace Injured Ravens LB Teddye Buchanan