OWINGS MILLS — Don’t ask Ravens assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt to draw comparisons to safety Kyle Hamilton.
Hewitt contends there are no other players like him in the NFL.
“He’s one of one,” Hewitt said. “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 6-foot-4, 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.”
Hamilton has the potential to become one of the best defensive players in Ravens history. He earned All-Pro honors in just his second year in the NFL after setting the Ravens’ single-season record for defensive backs with 10 tackles for a loss. He had 13 passes defensed, which was tied with Detroit’s Brian Branch for the most by a safety last season.
Hamilton, 23, had three sacks in the first half against the Colts on September 25th, which tied an NFL record by a defensive back.
Now, he is even more comfortable in the Ravens’ system and the coaches plan to use him in various roles, such as a pass rusher, because of his versatility. Hamilton was limited in the OTAs because of an elbow injury, but he has been a full-go at training camp.
Hewitt expects an exceptional season rom Hamilton.
“This is his third year in the system, [his] third year knowing it,” Hewitt said. “So, he knows the ins and outs of the entire system. Just being … put it this way – he’s a junior, [either] in high school [or] in college – he knows what’s going on, he knows how to operate, and his I.Q. was already a high I.Q. football player. But now, knowing everything that’s going on within the defense [since it’s] his third year going through it, it’s not much that he doesn’t know.
“[He still needs to] continue to be coached in all those things, but as far as knowing what to do and how to do it and unlocking things back there, he’s really good. He knows it.”
The Ravens selected Hamilton from Notre Dame with the 14th selection in the 2022 NFL draft. Many pundits thought he was a top-5 pick, but he fell after there was a run on wide receivers.
Hamilton played in multiple spots for the Irish, and he has been able to make seamless adjustments to the Ravens’ defense.
“I think at Notre Dame, I did a little bit of everything, but coming into the league, I really didn’t expect to,” Hamilton said. “I think I more expected to just play both safety spots. That was going to be the extent of my flexibility – but it’s been awesome just being able to move around and learn more about the defense, stuff like that. I just said something to somebody else over there – I just go to week-to-week.
“[When] Monday meetings come in, whatever they need me to do – if that’s play deep, play in the half, play down in the box [or] cover – whatever they need me to do, I’m here for it. [I] just want to get better at everything.”
