The Notre Dame football program has a presumed first-round pick in Kyle Hamilton, and here is his ceiling and floor in the 2022 NFL Draft.
In the last two NFL Drafts, the Notre Dame football team has not placed a player inside the first round. Last year, almost every mock draft had linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah going in the first round, even in the top-10, but he ended up falling into Day 2 due to come medical issues that would eventually be cleared up.
In 2022, that trend will almost certainly change, as safety Kyle Hamilton is widely regarded as not only the best defensive back in the draft class but one of the best players all-around. He has dominated during his time in South Bend, and at the next level, he has the potential to have a Derwin James-like impact in Year 1.
Hamilton has been mocked all over the place in terms of where he could end up this April. Will he be a top-5 pick? Or will he fall into the second half of the first round, as he plays a position that is not considered premium?
Either way, he is going to hear his name called on Day 1, and here, we look at his ceiling and floor for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Notre Dame football: Kyle Hamilton’s ceiling and floor in the 2022 NFL Draft
Ceiling
When it comes to pure talent in the 2022 NFL Draft class, there are very few players who can hold a candle to Hamilton. A rare blend of size and speed, Hamilton can cover the entire field, and in the pass-happy NFL, he is going to be a tremendous addition to any defensive backfield.
Looking at the team picking early in the 2022 NFL Draft, Hamilton has a chance to go high, as in top-3 high. In fact, in the last 2022 NFL Mock Draft that I wrote for FanSided.com, I had Hamilton going No. 3 overall to the Houston Texans, which I believe will be his ceiling this April.
The Texans are a team that desperately needs help in their secondary, and with a new head coach in Lovie Smith that is a tremendous defensive mind, he certainly would help them there. Houston was a laughingstock last season, but picking at No. 3 overall, they can inject their defense with possibly the best all-around player in this draft class.
Notre Dame football: Kyle Hamilton’s ceiling and floor in the 2022 NFL Draft
Floor
Last year, the first safety off the board was Jevon Holland, who went with pick No. 36 to the Miami Dolphins, and the same was the case in 2020 when Xavier McKinney went in the exact spot to the New York Giants. Safety is just not a position where you see teams pick within the top-10, as the highest-selected prospect in recent memory is Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was selected as a safety at No. 11 overall to Miami back in 2018.
In this class, based on talent, there is no way Hamilton falls that far, and at the lowest, the New York Jets need help in the secondary, making No. 10 the absolute floor for him. Of course, floor means worst-case scenario, so the lowest I can see Hamilton falling is just inside the top-10.
Notre Dame football: Replacing potential 2022 NFL Draft picks
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Overall, Hamilton has the talent to be a legitimate top-5 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but it all depends on which teams are willing to draft a safety that high. This is not a premium position at the NFL level, but Hamilton is not your ordinary safety, and I believe he does not make it out of the top-5 picks.