Ravens Safety Moves Up in NFL Position Rankings

Ravens Safety Moves Up in NFL Position Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton has been recognized as one of the best safeties in the NFL over the past two seasons. Now, he’s being recognized as THE best.

After spotty use in his rookie season, where he still seemed to impress although starting just four games in 16 appearances, he’s made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons while also being honored with First-Team All-Pro and Second-Team All-Pro nods.

In their position rankings, ESPN and Jeremy Fowler survey coaches and scouts to rank the top 10 players at each position. And those surveys rank Hamilton at No. 1.

“In 2023, he was the only safety with at least 10 tackles for loss and 10 pass deflections. He added three sacks and four interceptions yet finished second behind Antoine Winfield Jr. in the top 10 ranking,” Fowler wrote. “This year, he was down significantly in each of those categories yet received more than 60% of the first-place votes. The reason is simple: His value transcends numbers. ‘All-around best player: Size instincts, production, blitz ability,’ an NFL personnel director said. Hamilton’s 14.5% ball-hawking rate is decent but unspectacular, coming on 76 targets. But he can line up all over the field, from free safety to “star” linebacker. He played 200 snaps in 2024 “from the slot” as an overhang defender. He is one of five players over the past two seasons with 15 pass breakups, five interceptions and multiple forced fumbles.

“‘Great player, scheme specific,’ an AFC executive said. ‘In his role, he’s very good. He can’t man cover and does not have elite range, that’s why teams with quicker receivers can have success against him.'”

Hamilton’s trend upward has continued. He’s totaled 250 tackles with 186 solo and 18 for loss and added seven sacks, 15 QB hits and five interceptions.

Hamilton is an anchor in the Ravens’ secondary, and at the age of just 24, he could stay there for a while. He was also recently named as a possible 2025 Defensive Player of the Year award winner.

“An interesting possibility is a defensive back dethroning another defensive back for the honor, considering only eight have ever won the award since it debuted for the 1969 season,” Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski wrote. “[Hamilton] isn’t a typical safety, though. He’s a… tone-setter, capable of being highly effective in the box, covering the slot or playing the deep third.”

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

Ravens Safety Moves Up in NFL Position Rankings

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