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 and puts Hamilton under contract in Baltimore through 2030.
"It's crazy. It's a dream come true," Hamilton said.
For General Manager Eric DeCosta, it checks off a massive item on the Ravens' to-do list with multiple players in line for extensions. But it was an item that the Ravens and Hamilton could've waited for and didn't, showing just how dedicated they were to getting it done.
Hamilton, 24, is entering his fourth season, and Baltimore had already picked up his fifth-year option in April, putting him under contract through 2026. This was the first offseason in which Hamilton was eligible for an extension. However, the two sides kept working at a long-term deal that rewards both sides.
"It's well-deserved, as you all know. Phenomenal player. Phenomenal person. Great leader," DeCosta said. "We think this recognizes his impact on our team and in the community. We're thrilled to get this done and off my plate."
Hamilton said he and the Ravens both wanted to get it done before the season started.
"I feel like it would've been a distraction," Hamilton said. "It's just human nature to kind of think about those things even though I try not to."
Talks started earlier this summer before the July break, but heated up about three weeks ago. While some players aren't very involved in negotiations, Hamilton was following along the whole time and gave credit to both sides for not "b-sing each other." He said the Ravens honored that he's not your traditional safety, and he got paid accordingly.
"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 and value.
"I feel like I'm talented enough in different areas to do what they ask me to do, but they also have to feel like that, too. And then I have to go out there and produce," Hamilton said. "So, it's a group effort, but I'm willing to play wherever, whenever they need me to."
One of the Ravens' smartest players, Hamilton is still ascending as he enters his prime. 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."
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. But Joseph doesn't offer Hamilton's position flexibility.
Last season, 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).
"I think one of the things you love about Kyle is he's kind of a unicorn," DeCosta said. "He can do many different things. He does them all very well."
Just as he's a unique player, Hamilton is also a unique person. Possibly the smartest player on the team, Hamilton said he plans to maybe buy a watch and put the rest in the piggy bank. He plans on doing some philanthropic work and helping his family. His mom always told him, "money just makes you more of who you already are."
Hamilton doesn't plan on changing much. He'll approach work the same way and the same goal.
"I think you check a lot of boxes off, hopefully, throughout your football career. And not toot my own horn, but I feel like I've checked a good bit," he said. "Super Bowl still has yet to be checked. ... So, we want to get greedy with that. We want to do that now, as soon as possible, and stack them."
