Pundit Believes Kyle Hamilton Is 'Defensive Player of the Year Type of Talent'
Kyle Hamilton has established himself as one of the elite safeties in the league, and he could be on a path to join an exclusive club.
Only three safeties have been named Defensive Player of the Year over the past 40 years: former Raven Ed Reed (2004), Bob Sanders (2007), and Troy Polamalu (2010). Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema believes Hamilton has the talent to win the award.
"This is a Defensive Player of the Year type of talent, somebody who can do everything for you," Sikkema said on the “PFF NFL Show” podcast. "He can play free safety. He can play strong safety. He can play as a slot defender. We've even seen him play some linebacker, outside corner. Kyle Hamilton can do it all for you."
PFF's Dalton Wasserman echoed Sikkema's praise of Hamilton.
"There are only four or five guys in the conversation for best safety in the NFL, and he's squarely in it. If you have him No. 1, I have no complaints about it," Wasserman said. "He's just one of the few players in football that does everything at an elite level."
The comments about Hamilton came during a larger discussion about each team's best value player. Sikkema and Wasserman agreed that it had to be Hamilton for the Ravens because the two-time All-Pro is still playing on his rookie contract.
Of course, it's just a matter of time before Hamilton signs a contract extension that could make him the highest-paid safety in the league.
"When you talk about a guy who is worth every single dollar you are paying him, Kyle Hamilton's contract extension is about to be massive," Sikkema said.
Wasserman added: "Once he signs that extension, he's going to be the highest-paid safety probably we've ever seen, and he'll certainly deserve it. He's everything they could've possibly wanted in him when they drafted him."
'Rising Star' Zach Orr Among Most Likely Future Head Coaches
Pass Rush Coach Chuck Smith was effusive in his praise for second-year Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr Wednesday, saying Orr "is going to be an incredible coordinator."
ESPN's Mina Kimes believes the 33-year-old Orr also has what it takes to be a successful head coach. Kimes and Mike Golic Jr. conducted a future head coach draft on her podcast, and she made Orr the ninth-overall selection.
"I thought the turnaround of the Ravens' defense last season was really impressive," Kimes said. "I think they're going to be really good again. I think he's going to get a lot of credit for it. When [former Defensive Coordinator] Mike Macdonald left and their staff was pillaged essentially, he was the guy that [Head Coach John] Harbaugh believed in, that they chose to be the defensive coordinator, and I think that speaks to not only his ability, but also how he is regarded in the building, his personality. He just seems like a rising star to me."
Golic was also impressed by how Orr made adjustments during the season that resulted in the defense becoming one of the best in the league in the second half of the season.
"To watch him adjust and respond in real time last year in a situation where a lot's expected of you – you don't just get to go work in the dark and hone your craft at a place where there's no stakes and nobody cares here – is a really impressive testament to a bunch of between-the-ears stuff that shows your ability to go and transfer that as a head coach when you're doing something for the first time again," Golic said.
Kimes and Golic each made five selections in their draft and alternated picks. Both had Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken among those who were considered but not drafted.
Ravens Predicted to Have a Top Three Offense in 2025
NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice predicted the top 10 offenses for 2025, and the Ravens landed at No. 3.
"Last offseason, I was worried about how Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry would fit together in the same offense. Talk about an unnecessary concern," Filice wrote. "Jackson nearly won his third MVP with his best statistical season yet, while Henry averaged a career-high 5.9 yards per carry en route to 1,921 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Perhaps I should have known two of the most dynamic players of a generation would make sweet music together."
Filice went on to say that, as great as Jackson and Henry are, the Ravens' offense is more than a two-man show.
"They don't reach such heights, though, without inspired work from the big boys up front," Filice said. "Forced to replace three starters last season, Baltimore's offensive line got off to a slow start, but the unit just got better and better as the season progressed. With four of the five starters coming back, the most obvious question is whether Andrew Vorhees is ready to fill the void at left guard following Patrick Mekari's departure in free agency.
"The passing-game weaponry remains robust, with Zay Flowers leading the receivers and Isaiah Likely seemingly poised to overtake Mark Andrews as the team's top tight end."
The Ravens also return wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who is coming off a breakout season, and added five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Ravens Urged to Sign Veteran Edge Rusher Preston Smith
Fox Sports’ Carmen Vitali said the Ravens' biggest remaining need is edge rusher and named Preston Smith as a player they should target.
Smith, 32, has 70.5 career sacks over 10 seasons. He had 4.5 sacks last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.
"As electric as the Ravens' offense is with Lamar Jackson at the helm, so much of their identity is tied up in defense," Vitali wrote. "There's a ton of talent on that side of the ball, too. But there's something left to be desired in the pass rush. Kyle Van Noy is a great player. Odafe Oweh is, too. But to keep consistent pressure coming off the edge, I'd like to see a deeper rotation — especially to capitalize on the players Baltimore has on the interior. Guys like Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones can wreak havoc inside, which makes things easier and mismatches more common with guys on the outside."
It wouldn't be a surprise if the Ravens sign a veteran edge rusher, but they're high on young players such as Tavius Robinson, who Smith referred to as "one of our centerpieces," second-round rookie Mike Green, Adisa Isaac, and David Ojabo.
Quick Hits
Yesterday's Most Read: News & Notes: Injury Updates on Beau Brade, Chidobe Awuzie
- Jackson (No. 18) and Henry (No. 30) made the NFLPA’s top 50 player sales list.
