Notre Dame football: Grading Kyle Hamilton to the Baltimore Ravens
By Andrew Hall
The Baltimore Ravens selected former Notre Dame football safety, Kyle Hamilton, with the 14th overall selection in the NFL Draft.
Former Notre Dame football safety Kyle Hamilton heard his name called by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell with the 14th overall selection. As a new member of the Baltimore Ravens, Hamilton hopes to uphold the tradition of great Baltimore defenses that included greats such as linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed.
Filling Reed’s shoes will be a daunting task but not one Hamilton will shy away from. How well did the Ravens’ front office do with this first-round selection?
The Baltimore Ravens recently inked former New Orleans safety, Marcus Williams. In addition to Williams, the roster still includes veteran Frank Clark. These two well-positioned starters made the Hamilton selection surprising.
However, the AFC North division features elite offensive playmakers including Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase, Pittsburgh’s Chase Claypool, and Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson and Amari Cooper. The Ravens cannot use enough defensive talent.
Notre Dame football star has excellent versatility
One of Hamilton’s best attributes is his versatility. He can play both safety positions, slot cornerback against bigger receivers or tight ends, and a dime linebacker. If he does not immediately fit into the lineup as a base safety, he helps as a chess piece that new defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald can utilize.
Overall, Hamilton ranked in the top 10 for most NFL Draft experts. By picking Hamilton at No. 14, the Ravens likely received the best value for any selection in the NFL Draft. For those reasons, this selection should earn top marks.
However, with two quality safeties on the roster, this pick is a little confusing. When the offense playmakers in the AFC North are factored in, the selection makes more sense. The total estimated value for Hamilton’s rookie contract is approximately $16 million with an estimated signing bonus of $9 million.
Grade: B+