Expectations for Baltimore Ravens second-year safety Kyle Hamilton are high coming off a very strong second half to his rookie campaign. He finished as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded safety since 2014, and NFL.com’s Eric Edholm predicted that he will be the team’s most valuable player outside of Lamar Jackson in 2023.
“The belief is that he’ll be able to showcase more of his playmaking ability in a more complete safety role this coming season — and don’t forget, he’s still only 22 years old,” he wrote in a story published July 5. “I might be a year or two ahead of myself here, but I think the 2022 first-round pick is capable of a five-sack, five-interception type of season.”
.@kyledhamilton_ with the SACK❗️❗️
Hamilton thrived in a rotational hybrid role and eventually became the full-time starter at strong safety. To make room on the roster and create cap space, they traded veteran Chuck Clark, who had missed only one game as a starter in the last three and a half seasons to the New York Jets in March.
Playing in arguably the league’s toughest division, the Ravens will need their top pick from a year ago to take his game to the next level to give them an edge in their pursuit of the division crown and a Super Bowl championship.
“Facing strong QB competition in the AFC North, along with a few tough late-season games, the Ravens are going to need Pro Bowl-level play from Hamilton, and it says here they’ll get that this season,” Edholm wrote.
All-Pro Linebacker Was Almost the First Choice
Edholm wrote that he contemplated naming another standout defender on what is expected to be one of the best defenses in the league this year.
“I thought long and hard about Roquan Smith, who, admittedly, is probably the odds-on favorite for this category,” he wrote. “However, I’m just fascinated by Hamilton, who was a bit miscast in a heavy nickel role last season but battled admirably and made tangible strides.”
It didn’t take long for the former first-rounder to establish himself as the field general of the unit after he was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bears at last year’s midseason deadline. By the end of the season, he had made such an impact on the starting defense that they made him the highest-paid off-ball player in league history on a five-year extension.
With Clark gone, Smith was the logical choice to take over green-dot responsibilities, meaning he was responsible for relaying calls from defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to the players.
Smith started in nine games, recording 86 total tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, one quarterback hit, three pass deflections and an interception.
ROQUAN SMITH INTERCEPTION!!!!
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With a whole offseason to better familiarize himself with his teammates and digest the playbook, the sixth-year veteran could be primed for his best season to date.
Hamilton Named to Top Youngsters List
NFL.com’s Nick Shook included Hamilton on his 2023 NFL All-Under-25 Team after Hamilton’s stand-out rookie performance.
“Hamilton didn’t really play a true safety spot for much of 2022, instead finding a role as a jack of all trades for Baltimore,” Shook wrote in a June 29 story. “Still, he earned PFF’s top defensive grade among safeties, and now he’s stepping into an expanded role.”
OUR BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hamilton recorded 62 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, five quarterback hits, five pass deflections, and one forced fumble in 16 games (four starts). With his snap count slated to increase in his second season, Shook wrote that his impact would follow suit.
“The physical traits that made him a tantalizing prospect coming out of Notre Dame have translated, and it will be interesting to see just how quickly he takes another step in Year 2,” Shook wrote.
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Prime Breakout Candidate Predicted to Be Ravens’ 2023 Non-QB MVP