Kyle Hamilton signed a record-setting four-year contract extension Wednesday morning, securing the future of the NFL's best safety in Baltimore long-term and making Hamilton the league's highest-paid safety.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, it's a $100.4 million deal that includes $82 million guaranteed.
For General Manager Eric DeCosta, it checks off a massive item on the Ravens' to-do list with multiple players in line for extensions. Hamilton, 24, is entering his fourth season, and Baltimore had already picked up his fifth-year option in April, putting him under contract through the 2026 season. However, the two sides kept working at a long-term deal that rewards both sides.
"Phenomenal player. Phenomenal person. Great leader," DeCosta said. "I'm very, very proud of Kyle. ... We think this recognizes his impact on our team and in the community. We're thrilled to get this done and off my plate."
DeCosta said talks started earlier this summer before the July break, but heated up about three weeks ago.
"The highest-paid safety in the NFL. That's a responsibility that we don't take lightly," DeCosta said. "Kyle has proven that he's going to carry that very well and we expect him to be an impact player in our defense for years to come."
Hamilton has quickly become a game-changing player since joining the Ravens as the 14th-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He can do it all on the field, playing multiple positions in Baltimore's versatile defense and playing them all at a very high level.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Hamilton played 355 snaps as a free safety, 292 as a slot corner, 246 as a linebacker, 124 as a strong safety, 78 on the defensive line, and 18 as a wide cornerback. That's unparalleled versatility.
One of the Ravens' smartest players, Hamilton is still ascending as he enters his prime years. Secondary Coach Chuck Pagano, who is in his 19th year coaching in the NFL, compared Hamilton's mental abilities to Ravens Hall of Famer Ed Reed.
"They pick up the defense so fast. They're out there, and they're not thinking about our calls. They're not thinking about our scheme," Pagano said. "He's one step ahead. … Behind the scenes, Kyle prepares as good as anybody. He watches a ton of film, so he's got almost every play kind of whittled down to one or two plays in every situation, so [it] gives him a chance to make plays."
A Pro Bowler the past two years and first-team All-Pro in 2023, Hamilton posted a career-high 107 tackles last season with two sacks, four tackles for loss, one interception, nine passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Among safeties who played at least 20% of the defensive snaps, Hamilton had the second-highest grade from Pro Football Focus last season. Only the Lions' Kerby Joseph, who signed a four-year $86 million contract extension in April, was graded higher.
Hamilton was the NFL's top safety in defensive yards per completion allowed (7.76). He became the NFL's first defensive back since 2011 to record at least 10 tackles and one pass deflection in three consecutive games.
In 2023, Hamilton's 10 tackles for loss were the most in a single season by a defensive back in Ravens franchise history, surpassing Reed. Hamilton also became the youngest Raven in franchise history to have a game with multiple interceptions (in San Francisco).
Pagano said this Ravens secondary is the best he's ever seen. Hamilton is a massive reason why, and it should remain that way for quite some time with he and Malaki Starks, a first-round rookie, patrolling side-by-side.
