Kyle Hamilton
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Kyle Hamilton lauded fellow Ravens safety Malaki Starks.
The Baltimore Ravens handsomely rewarded Kyle Hamilton with a lucrative four-year contract extension worth up to $100.4 million because of All-Pro caliber play over the last two seasons.
Well, one NFL writer believes Hamilton is going to be worth every cent of that big payday by predicting the Notre Dame product will earn a prestigious award with his performance on the field in 2025.
Kyle Hamilton Predicted to Win Defensive Player of the Year Award for 2025 NFL Season
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic boldly predicted that Ravens DB Kyle Hamilton will win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2025, which would make it two straight seasons where a defensive back has earned the league-wide honor.
“This award is typically dominated by pass rushers, but Denver’s Patrick Surtain II showed last year that defensive backs can win it with spectacular seasons. Hamilton is certainly capable of making that type of impact,” Zrebiec wrote. “The Ravens’ selection of Georgia safety Malaki Starks in the first round will allow defensive coordinator Zach Orr to push Hamilton back into the matchup/roving role that he flourished in during the 2023 season. It also will allow Hamilton to play closer to the line of scrimmage, which should lead to more production with sacks, tackles for loss and forced turnovers.”
Despite Hamilton being forced to play a bigger role as a single-high safety over the back half of the season, he still managed to post a career-high 107 total tackles last year to go with two sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.
Hamilton proved his versatility in 2024, making him one of the most well-rounded defensive backs in the league entering the upcoming season, which was echoed by his new teammate, Malaki Starks, on a recent appearance on The Lounge.
“There’s levels to this thing and he’s at the very top of the top,” said Starks. “Just to see the way that (Hamilton) moves on tape to just learn from him in person and just kind of see it is crazy… I think just his knowledge and the way that he goes about the game is different than most guys, and I’m very blessed to just get to learn from that.”
Does the Addition of Malaki Starks Mean Kyle Hamilton Could be Playing Near the Line of Scrimmage More in 2025?
Speaking of Starks, the addition of the standout Georgia Bulldog to the backend of this defense could allow Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr to get more creative with his alignment of Hamilton in 2025.
The Ravens defense struggled early in the season while trying to adjust to life without Mike Macdonald and the loss of Patrick Queen at linebacker, but finished strong by allowing just 261 total yards per game over the final three contests of the regular season — which ranked first in the NFL during that stretch.
Hamilton can be a handful for opposing offenses to deal with as a big slot defender. He is a great blitzer from the slot, is big enough to provide run support while still being fluid enough to hang with slot receivers and move tight ends. Hamilton seeing more reps near the line of scrimmage could create chaos for opposing offenses.
When you combine the additions of Starks, Mike Green, and former Pro Bowl CB Jaire Alexander to this defense, this unit has a chance to be pretty special in 2025.
If everything comes together, Hamilton could prove to be the best player on the best defense in the league, which would certainly put him in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year at the end of the season.