ExtremeRavens Posted August 27 Posted August 27 The Ravens just reset the NFL’s safety market because Kyle Hamilton doesn’t play safety. He plays everywhere. On Wednesday, Baltimore awarded their 24-year-old defensive Swiss Army knife a four-year contract extension worth up to $100.4 million, including a record-setting $82 million in guaranteed salary. It’s the richest deal in NFL history for a safety — except Hamilton continues to defy that label. This deal isn’t about a massive payday, either. It’s an acknowledgement of the matchup nightmare who helps define Zach Orr’s defense. Line Hamilton up over a slot receiver, and the route tree suddenly shrinks. Drop him deep, and he covers the field with range, capable of erasing throws over the middle and making quarterbacks think twice. He’s one of the Ravens’ best tacklers, and when Hamilton rushes, he can dismantle an entire play. Guards can’t square him up cleanly near the line of scrimmage, while running backs struggle to block or chip him in blitz pickup. No matter the defensive package, Hamilton represents a headache for every offensive coordinator in the league. That’s the type of luxury Baltimore wasn’t about to let slip. His annual average ($25.1 million) tops Detroit safety Kerby Joseph, who earlier this summer signed a four-year deal worth $21.5 million annually. Hamilton’s guaranteed money also clears Antoine Winfield Jr.’s previous benchmark for NFL safeties. The Buccaneers star signed a four-year deal with $45 million guaranteed in May 2024. Hamilton’s $82 million in guaranteed salary nearly doubles that mark. By signing Hamilton to his new deal with less than two weeks until the regular season opener at Buffalo, the Ravens shattered the safety market. General manager Eric DeCosta was blunt about the timing of negotiations. Talks between the Ravens and Hamilton’s reps “started to heat up about three weeks ago,” DeCosta said, adding that making Hamilton the league’s highest-paid safety “is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.” Translation: Baltimore knows what it has and wasn’t about to risk losing it. Hamilton’s resume already shows a player that’s earned every penny. Across three seasons, the two-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro selection has totaled 250 tackles, seven sacks, five interceptions and four forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus regularly grades Hamilton among the league’s top safeties, particularly in box coverage. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said making Kyle Hamilton the league's highest-paid safety “is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.” (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Hamilton’s rise hasn’t come without setbacks. He sprained his knee as a rookie in 2022. Last year, he battled ankle, knee and back issues. This summer, Hamilton missed several practices because of a hamstring issue that feels more precautionary than serious. The injuries have raised some questions about his durability. Baltimore’s bet is that his uniqueness and availability will align over the next half-decade. And to Hamilton’s credit, he’s played in 48 of a potential 51 regular-season games. Roughly 90 minutes after putting pen to paper Wednesday afternoon, Hamilton stepped outside at Under Armour Performance Center to field questions about his record-setting deal. Sporting a black hoodie and gray sweats, he was calm and measured. “It’s crazy, it’s a dream come true,” he said. Minutes later, his tone sharpened. “Super Bowl,” Hamilton added. “I want to get greedy with that.” That hunger is rooted in the football journey. Hamilton slipped to No. 14 in the 2022 draft, a tumble many analysts chalked up to positional value and less-than-ideal testing numbers at the NFL scouting combine. Hamilton never worried like some of his family and peers. He can still recall the amount of chatter surrounding him on draft night. “A lot of people around me were more upset than I was,” he said. “I always believed … I ended up in the right place.” Asked about following in the footsteps of Ravens legends like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, Hamilton didn’t bite on the comparison. He acknowledged the high standard those franchise icons set while making clear he’s focused on building his own legacy in Baltimore. Hamilton represents a rare defender who can erase tight ends, chase down slot receivers or crash the pocket with his unique frame and build. He’s a pass rusher, nickel corner, linebacker and sure tackler molded into one rising defensive superstar. Call him a safety if you want, but the Ravens just paid Hamilton to be much more. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article Quote
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