Can Kyle Hamilton Rebound in 2023?

Photo: Vincent Carchietta, USA Today Sports

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Here are the prior articles in this series:

Can Shaquille Leonard Rebound in 2023?
Can Cole Holcomb Rebound in 2023?
Can T.J. Watt Rebound in 2023?
Can Haason Reddick Rebound in 2023?
Can Azeez Al-Shaair Rebound in 2023?
Can Divine Deablo Rebound in 2023?

One of the most crucial days in the NFL calendar is the draft. On this day, your team and its myriad of executives will scour high and low for anyone they deem to be a fit for their long-term vision. Some are big winners; others must answer for poor results. The most crucial part of this important day is round one. In this opening round, your team is expected to hit big. If you hit in the later rounds, you’re looked at as a genius because the expectations aren’t there. If you miss later, it doesn’t matter because “it was a seventh-round pick.” If you miss in the first, then the fanbase and, most importantly, the owner begins to question the competency of the decision-makers in the organization. The Baltimore Ravens have done well with these picks, drafting the likes of Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews, so when they’re on the clock, the league watches. I think they’ve hit a gem in 2022 with Kyle Hamilton.

Your Typical Rookie Year

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Ravens used a first-round pick on Safety Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton was widely regarded as the best player at his position and was the first Safety drafted. The expectations of a first-round defender are high as is, but when you have a defensive head coach in John Harbaugh and a history of dominant defenders such as Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, the expectations can seem almost overwhelming. Hamilton entered the league as a backup behind veterans Marcus Williams and Chuck Clark. Williams started off as an explosive IDP asset with 22 tackles and three interceptions in the first two games of the season but was injured in Week 5 and lost for the majority of his season. From Week 5 to Week 14, we got to see a glimpse of who Hamilton was. After back-to-back zero-point weeks in Weeks 4 and 5, we saw what would be a run-of-the-mill type of year for a first-year player, underwhelming stats with a splash play here and there. What has me most excited, however, was the consistency he showed when on the field. He finished his rookie year with 62 total tackles, five defended passes, and two sacks. This was accomplished in 14 games.

A Change in Circumstances

Putting up these numbers as a backup player is noteworthy. As you can see from the data, he not only affects the game in pass coverage but has the ability to rush the quarterback when asked. The playing time was limited early, but as he gained experience throughout the season, his numbers rose. This year, since the team moved on from Chuck Clark, he will be starting alongside a healthy Marcus Williams, who may be the most dynamic safety duo in the entire league. We need to contextualize what we see here. Williams will garner statistics, and we have seen him explode multiple times, which begs the question, “What will this do to Hamilton’s potential production?”. Clark was a former 6th-round pick that overachieved his draft selection and was a notable IDP defensive back for the better part of five years. This past season, he achieved 100+ tackles but really failed to do much else. This is where the benefit of Hamilton’s athleticism will shine through these semi-big shoes he must fill. Hamilton is a multi-faceted playmaker who can produce statistics regardless of the game plan and should achieve 100+ tackles this next season with a few splash stats to really tie it all together. The Ravens as a team have shown us an ability for there to be multiple contributors at the safety position, and Hamilton is the more talented of the two starters.