The NFL Top 100 Players of 2024 countdown continued on Friday and the second Baltimore Raven to be recognized as one of the best among their peers is safety Kyle Hamilton at No. 43.
As was the case with defensive tackle Justin Madubuike who became the first Raven revealed on this year’s list at No. 61, Hamilton is making his debut on the illustrious rankings voted on exclusively by players.
Not only did Hamilton establish himself as arguably the best in the game at his respective position, but he made a compelling case to be considered among the best overall defenders in the entire league, making his spot outside of the top 20 or at least 30 so perplexing.
The 2022 first-rounder appeared in 15 games and earned First Team All Pro and Pro Bowl honors after recording 81 total tackles including 10 for a loss, three sacks, four quarterback hits, 13 pass breakups, a forced fumble and four interceptions—one of which he returned for his first career touchdown.
Hamilton’s positional versatility is the key to his dominance and vital to the diversity of the Ravens’ defense. Thanks to his rare blend of size, length and athleticism, he can be deployed in a multitude of different ways at multiple positions including safety, nickel corner, dime linebacker, edge rusher and even defensive tackle.
In an interview with Robert Mays on The Athletic Football Show earlier this week, Super Bowl-winning coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams called Hamilton an “Ultimate Chess Piece” after having coached against him last season. On Wednesday, Ravens assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt showered him with even more lofty praise by comparing him to a mythological creature.
“I think Kyle is a unicorn,” Hewitt said. “He’s a one of one. There are not many guys who [can] come along like that. He’s like a generational-type player. You don’t see many guys who are six-foot-four, who can run and change direction the way he does. He still plays with violence; he’s not a finesse player. He’s got it all. He’s a different player, and he is very unique. There are not many players in the league or coming into the league that I see that look like that.”
The fact that Hamilton is still only just 23 years old and still so much more to learn and room to grow as a player should strike fear into the hearts of both his peers and opposing coaches around the league. Making the top 50 in his debut on the list is solid, but it is still surprising given all the standout games he had against some of the best teams in the league, several of which happened under the lights of primetime. While it marks his first appearance, it surely won’t be his last, and he will likely be much higher annually moving forward.
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