RAVENS LOCK UP ROOKIE SAFETY KYLE HAMILTON TO ROOKIE DEAL
The Baltimore Ravens signed rookie Kyle Hamilton to a massive rookie deal on Tuesday last week. The Ravens picked the rangy safety from Notre Dame after he fell out of the top 10 and into their lap in the draft six weeks ago, and are very excited about the prospect of having a generational talent to add to what is already a deep secondary.
Hamilton’s deal is a four-year, fully guaranteed rookie contract worth $16.255million that includes a signing bonus of $9.002million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal also includes a fifth-year option for 2026, as per usual for first-round draftees.
The Ravens picked Hamilton at 14th overall in the draft in what general manager Eric DeCosta said was “a no-brainer.” Like most people, Baltimore did not anticipate Hamilton to fall to 14 with many mock drafts having the former member of the Fighting Irish going in the top 10. Some mocks had him off the board as high as the top 5.
“Never dreamed in a million years that he would be there,” said DeCosta. “Reminds me of some of the old drafts with Ozzie [Newsome] where it just seemed like in the early days, good players would just fall down the board to us. It kind of felt that way and it was a no-brainer for us really.”
Hamilton spoke about Baltimore after being drafted saying: “It’s awesome [being picked by Baltimore]. I feel like I was picked by the right team and looking back 10 years from now, hopefully, I’m just smiling. Looking back at a great career with the Ravens. Baltimore is a great football city. Great franchise. They’ve had continued success since I can remember watching football and have had great guys. I think they had a safety that was pretty good. A linebacker that was pretty good too. Obviously, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis set the foundation for the franchise. I’m excited to come in and contribute.”
While safety wasn’t a need for the Ravens going into the 2022 draft, GM Eric DeCosta explained why they just couldn’t pass up on Hamilton when the opportunity presented itself, especially after the Ravens played most of the 2021 season with a depleted secondary.
“Honestly, we thought this guy would be gone by pick 4, 5 maybe,” said DeCosta. “Just too good of a player. It wasn’t even contemplation. Had the phone been ringing at that time we would not have traded out, away from him. These kinds of players we feel are unique and he can help us in so many ways.”
“You’ve seen the NFL game change. You’ve seen how tight ends now are such weapons. We think this guy can cover tight ends. We think he can play split safety. We think this guy can play down in the box. He’s a very smart guy. He fits our defense. Our coaches are very excited and we think with Marcus [Williams], and with Chuck [Clark], with him [Hamilton], and with guys like Brandon Stephens, Geno [Stone], we have a lot of moving pieces: chess pieces that will help us be a very good defense.”
Hamilton is a college superstar, one of the most highly-rated safeties coming into the league in recent years, an intelligent, physical, and rangy defender with incredible ball skills that make him an instant ball hawk threat as well as a hard hitter in the open field. While the Ravens expect Hamilton to offer them versatility in scheme and good performances on the field, it’s more than likely that he might offer more. The 6-foot 4-inch defensive back is a natural leader and will bring a Super Bowl-winning mentality to a team that, especially on defense, has been lacking that “It factor” in the past few years.
Hamilton is mature, has an incredible mentality, and has shown ambition right away in echoing the Ravens’ lofty ambitions, as he spoke on SiriusXM right after being drafted: “Right. I’m excited. It’s one of those things where I’m excited to come in and have the opportunity to win a Super Bowl right off the bat.” The Ravens will hope that Hamilton not only improves the roster but also adds an important piece to the puzzle that will help them to make that Super Bowl push.
With the Ravens signing Hamilton, only Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett and Patriots guard Cole Strange are yet to sign a contract as of June 13th, of the rookies drafted in the first round.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero