2022 NFL Draft: Contract details released for Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens
Former Notre Dame star defensive back Kyle Hamilton is set to sign a fully guaranteed four-year, $16.2 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens. The deal includes a $9 million signing bonus and a fifth-year option for 2026, according to Spotrac.
The Ravens selected Hamilton with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, though Baltimore didn’t believe Hamilton would be on the board when its selection rolled around.
In fact, Hamilton went on a pre-draft visit to the Ravens and when head coach John Harbaugh met with Hamilton, he said, “Why are you here?” figuring he wouldn’t fall to them. It worked out, and the Ravens have their cornerstone cornerback of the future in Hamilton.
A former four-star plus recruit in the class of 2019, he was the No. 62 overall player in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The Atlanta native also ranked as the No. 6 safety and No. 9 player in his home state after playing at Marist School.
After establishing himself as one of the best defensive backs in college football, his combine numbers led to a late slide which could made him a steal. Despite his fall, Hamilton stands at 6-foot-4 with great length, finished his college career with 138 tackles, eight interceptions and 16 pass deflections. He also added 7.5 tackles for loss in 31 appearances for the Fighting Irish.
A 4.59 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was slower than most experts expected, but a strong workout in other areas prevented a major drop out of the top 15. That came, though, after several analysts reported he ran a 4.7 at Notre Dame pro day, much lower than the 4.56 official time Notre Dame reported.
“It is what it is,” Hamilton said of his 40 after pro day. “At the end of the day, we’re playing football.”
Hamilton can also lay claim to being the 70th first-round pick in Notre Dame football history and the highest-drafted Irish defensive player since defensive tackle Bryant Young in 1994 (No. 7 overall). He is also the first Notre Dame defensive back taken in the first round of the draft since Harrison Smith was selected No. 29 overall in 2012 by the Minnesota Vikings.
Hamilton will do his best to imitate the six-time Pro Bowl appearances by his Notre Dame predecessor, and at least during his rookie deal, will be getting paid handsomely while doing so.