Kyle Hamilton Voted NFL’s No. 1 Safety by League Insiders for Second Straight Year

Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton has established himself as more than one of the best young defensive players in football. According to the people inside the NFL, Hamilton is the best player at his position.

Hamilton was voted the No. 1 safety in the NFL for the second consecutive year in ESPN’s annual survey of league executives, coaches and scouts. It marks the third straight year that the Ravens star has finished among the top two safeties in the survey, further cementing his status among the NFL’s elite defensive players.

For Baltimore, Hamilton’s rise represents exactly what the organization envisioned when it selected the former Notre Dame standout with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

What the Ravens may not have fully anticipated was just how quickly Hamilton would become one of the most versatile and impactful defensive players in the league.

Hamilton Is a Defensive Weapon Without a True Position

Calling Hamilton a safety does not completely describe what he brings to Baltimore’s defense.

At 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, Hamilton possesses the size to play near the line of scrimmage while maintaining the athletic ability to handle responsibilities in coverage. Baltimore can deploy him as a deep safety, in the slot, near the box or as a blitzer.

That versatility creates problems for opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators because Hamilton’s location before the snap does not necessarily reveal his responsibility after it.

An AFC offensive coach highlighted that versatility in ESPN’s survey, pointing specifically to Hamilton’s combination of size, physicality, coverage ability, run defense and effectiveness as a blitzer.

The numbers also demonstrate Hamilton’s importance.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, opposing quarterbacks recorded a 49 QBR when Hamilton was on the field last season. When Hamilton was off the field, that number jumped dramatically to 90.

That is a remarkable difference and illustrates why Hamilton’s impact cannot always be measured simply by interceptions or tackles.

His presence changes what Baltimore can do defensively.

Another Strong Season for Hamilton

Hamilton continued to produce at a high level during the 2025 season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Hamilton earned an 86.3 overall defensive grade, ranking third among 98 qualified safeties. His 84.3 coverage grade ranked fourth at the position, while he also earned a 78.8 run-defense grade.

Hamilton finished the regular season with 105 total tackles, including 59 solo tackles, while recording nine passes defended, two forced fumbles and a sack.

Those statistics show the complete nature of Hamilton’s game.

He does not need to intercept five or six passes to dominate a football game. Hamilton can affect an offense by eliminating throwing windows, disrupting plays near the line of scrimmage, covering tight ends and slot receivers or creating pressure as a blitzer.

Baltimore can essentially move Hamilton wherever the defense needs him.

That is what makes him special.

The Centerpiece of Baltimore’s Defense

The Ravens have built their identity around defense throughout much of the franchise’s history, producing legendary players such as Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs.

Hamilton is now developing into the centerpiece of the current generation of Baltimore defense.

The Ravens also have linebacker Roquan Smith in the middle of the defense and a talented secondary that includes young safety Malaki Starks. Under head coach Jesse Minter, Baltimore has the personnel to create one of the league’s most flexible defensive systems.

Hamilton gives Minter a piece that few defensive coaches possess.

He can disguise coverages. He can move Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage. He can send him after the quarterback. He can ask him to cover receivers or tight ends. He can also allow Hamilton to patrol the secondary and use his size and instincts to disrupt passing lanes.

There are not many defensive backs in the NFL capable of handling that many responsibilities at an elite level.

That is why Hamilton’s value extends beyond traditional statistics.

Hamilton Has Lived Up to His First-Round Selection

When Baltimore selected Hamilton 14th overall in 2022, some questioned whether an NFL team should use such a valuable draft pick on a safety.

Four seasons later, that discussion looks much different.

Hamilton has developed into one of the premier defensive players from his draft class and one of the most important players on Baltimore’s roster.

His career has been defined by versatility from the beginning. The Ravens quickly discovered that limiting Hamilton to one traditional position would also limit what made him special.

Instead, Baltimore has allowed Hamilton to become a defensive chess piece.

That approach has helped turn him into the player NFL executives, coaches and scouts now consider the best safety in football.

MSB Take: Hamilton Deserves the Recognition

There should not be much controversy surrounding Kyle Hamilton’s place at the top of the NFL safety rankings.

Hamilton has become one of the most complete defensive backs in football, and his versatility separates him from nearly every other player at his position.

There may be safeties who produce more interceptions. Others may spend more time playing a traditional deep-safety role. Hamilton’s value comes from his ability to do almost everything Baltimore asks of him.

The most impressive statistic may be the difference in opposing quarterback QBR with Hamilton on and off the field. A jump from 49 to 90 when Hamilton leaves the field demonstrates just how significant his presence can be to Baltimore’s defense.

The Ravens selected Hamilton with the 14th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft hoping they had found a cornerstone for their secondary.

They found much more than that.

They found a player capable of becoming the foundation of an entire defense.

Being voted the NFL’s No. 1 safety by league executives, coaches and scouts for one year is impressive. Doing it in consecutive seasons shows that Hamilton’s dominance is no longer viewed as a breakout or temporary rise.

Kyle Hamilton has arrived among the NFL’s defensive elite.

Now the challenge for Hamilton and the Ravens is turning individual recognition into team success as Baltimore enters the 2026 season with expectations of returning to championship contention.