Ravens Insider: Ravens make fifth-year option decisions on Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum

[ExtremeRavens]

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton had one of the best seasons of any player at his position in the NFL last year. Now, he’ll get paid commensurately.

Baltimore picked up the fifth-year option on Hamilton on Wednesday, the team said.

Doing so means the 14th overall pick out of Notre Dame in 2022 will remain with the Ravens through at least the 2026 season. Picking up the option will cost $18.6 million, which for now would make him the third-highest paid safety in the league in terms of average annual value behind only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Antoine Winfield Jr. ($21.02 million) and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Derwin James ($19 million).

The decision, which Baltimore had until Thursday to make, was expected.

Hamilton was an All-Pro in 2023 and has been selected to the Pro Bowl each of the past two seasons. He’s also been the lynchpin to one of the league’s best defenses in that span and is one of the sport’s most versatile players, able to be deployed at deep safety, in the box and seemingly everywhere in between.

Last season, he finished ninth in the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year voting after being the only defensive back in 2024 to finish with at least 100 tackles, an interception, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Meanwhile, Baltimore did not pick up the fifth-year option on center Tyler Linderbaum.

That decision was also not a major surprise, even with the 25th overall pick in 2022 being selected to each of the past two Pro Bowls.

Picking it up would have cost the Ravens $23.4 million for 2026, or, put another way, the 2025 average of the top five offensive line salaries over the previous five years, a number that is high because of the value of offensive tackles. Currently, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey is the league’s highest-paid center at $18 million per season.

By declining it, the two sides can instead try to work out a long-term extension.

Related Articles

• Way-too-early look at Ravens depth chart following 2025 draft
• READER POLL: How would you grade the Ravens’ draft?
• Ravens draft by the numbers: One stat to know about all 11 picks
• 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 2025 draft
• Ravens draft grades: Analysts again give high marks — with notable caveat

If they’re unable to reach an agreement by March, Baltimore could place the franchise tag on Linderbaum, which would cost $27.6 million, according to Over The Cap, and then pull the tag if they’re able to work out an extension. Another option would be the less-likely transition tag (projected $25 million), which would allow the Ravens to match any offer sheet that he signs with another team.

Like Hamilton, Linderbaum has been integral to the Ravens’ success.

He is the centerpiece of an offensive line that helped clear the way for the league’s top offense in 2024. Baltimore also last year became the first team to top 4,000 yards passing and 3,000 rushing in the same season last year.

Said general manager Eric DeCosta in announcing the moves: “It is our intention for him to remain a Raven long term.”

Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1.

The Ravens did not pick up the fifth-year option on center Tyler Linderbaum, but general manager Eric DeCosta said, "It is our intention for him to remain a Raven long term." (Kevin Richardson/Staff)

View the full article