Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton has surpassed all expectations in the past two seasons, even for a 1st round pick. Despite starting just four games as a rookie, Hamilton has evolved into one of, if not the best, at his position.
Hamilton excelled yet again in 2024, earning a second consecutive selection for both the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams. Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports ranks Baltimore’s “do-it-all safety” at No. 11 on his list of the top 25 players 25 years old and under heading into 2025.
Ravens All-Pro Safety Kyle Hamilton Listed Just Outside Top 10 at No. 11
Benjamin included Hamilton at No. 14 on the list in 2024, praising his “positional flexibility” and impact at every level. Following a season in which he showed off even more versatility, the Ravens star has jumped up to No. 11.
In addition to jumping up on Benjamin’s list, Hamilton has jumped up to No. 1 in PFF’s safety rankings. PFF’s Zoltán Buday called Hamilton “the most complete safety in the league.” He noted that the Ravens star was the only safety “to earn at least an 88.0 PFF grade in coverage, run defense and pass rushing.”
“Need a timely sack? He can do it,” writes Benjamin. “Need a critical pass breakup? He’s there. The Notre Dame product all but sets the standard for do-it-all safety play.”
Hamilton’s ability to impact the game at all levels separates him from the rest of the pack at the position. It also makes his inclusion on Benjamin’s “All-Bargain Team” a no-brainer. The Ravens star is the 35th-highest-paid safety in the league, according to Over The Cap.
His cap number ($5,172,074) is the 29th-highest among safeties for this season, but it will skyrocket in 2026 ($18,601,000). That’s good for 8th-highest at the position.
While Hamilton has said he’s in no rush for an extension, he almost certainly will become the league’s highest-paid safety. That could mean the first-ever $100 million contract for a safety.
Center Tyler Linderbaum Featured as Honorable Mention for 3rd Straight Year
Hamilton was the only Raven featured on the list, but his teammate Tyler Linderbaum earned another honorable mention. While Linderbaum just missed the cut for this list, he joined Hamilton on Benjamin’s “All-Bargain Team” yesterday.
The 25-year-old center has earned three consecutive honorable mentions on Benjamin’s list, so he has just missed out. Fortunately for the Ravens, Linderbaum has developed into an elite run blocker and a slightly-above-average pass blocker.
The Ravens will have to make some tough decisions before the start of next season, especially since Linderbaum could earn himself an even bigger payday. It’s hard to put a price tag on an elite run blocker when you have the league’s best QB-RB rushing duo, though.
While the Ravens chose to pick up Hamilton’s fifth-year option at the end of April, they declined Linderbaum’s. Ravens GM Eric DeCosta announced the moves on April 30, emphasizing that the team’s goal is to keep both around long-term.
“We are exercising the fifth-year option for Kyle Hamilton, with the goal of working toward a multi-year contract extension,” DeCosta said in a statement. “While we will not apply the fifth-year option to Tyler Linderbaum, it is our intention for him to remain a Baltimore Raven long term.”
Ravens ‘Do-It-All Safety’ Lands on CBS Sports Top 25 Players 25 & Under List