Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton expected to become NFL’s highest-paid safety

On account of that transfer, Hamilton is on the books by 2026. The choice 12 months is valued at $18.6M, however a long-term accord will examine in at a a lot increased fee. Certainly, as ESPN’s Jamison Hensley writes, Hamilton is anticipated to turn out to be the league’s highest-paid security at any time when his extension is labored out.

After working on a part-time foundation throughout his rookie season, the Notre Dame product took on a beginning function in 2023. Hamilton emerged as a foundational member of Baltimore’s protection that 12 months, totaling 4 interceptions, 13 cross deflections and 10 tackles for loss. These figures helped earn him first-team All-Professional acclaim and led to excessive expectations for this previous marketing campaign.

Hamilton endured a statistical regression in some classes in 2024, though his 107 tackles set a brand new profession excessive en path to a second straight Professional Bowl nod. On the age of 24, he represents a key member of the Ravens’ secondary now but in addition for the foreseeable future. His second contract will little question mirror that, though a brand new pact is probably not in place by the beginning of the approaching marketing campaign. Baltimore has different extension priorities, together with fellow 2022 first-rounder Tyler Linderbaum.

The Ravens declined their heart’s fifth-year possibility, leaving him on observe free of charge company subsequent spring as issues stand. Linderbaum — identical to Hamilton — is a strong candidate for a new deal, however the timing of his could also be accelerated by the choice resolution. In any occasion, Hamilton might be joined by first-round rookie Malaki Starks as a security starter whereas remaining a vital member of Baltimore’s protection in 2025.

When Antoine Winfield Jr. inked his Buccaneers extension final offseason, he grew to become the primary security to surpass $20M in common annual earnings. That deal additionally marked the primary time wherein a security was the league’s prime earner amongst defensive backs. The cornerback market has since surged to $30M per 12 months, and Winfield has already been surpassed on the prime of the pecking order for safeties. Kerby Joseph secured $21.25M on average along with his Lions extension final month.

It might come as no shock if Hamilton had been to surpass that determine at any time when his subsequent contract takes form. Within the meantime, the Ravens will look into extensions for Linderbaum and – maybe as early as this offseason – Lamar Jackson. These offers will supply extra monetary readability on the place the staff stands coming into the 2026 offseason. By the point it ends, Hamilton will seemingly account for a large portion of Baltimore’s funds over the course of a number of years.