Kyle Hamilton Becomes First Raven Named to 2025 NFL Top 100 List, Cementing Status as League’s Rising Defensive Superstar
On a warm summer night, the NFL revealed the beginning of its annual countdown—the prestigious and hotly debated NFL Top 100 list, voted on by players across the league. And right out of the gate, a Baltimore Raven made the cut. Kyle Hamilton, the dynamic safety entering his third year in the league, has officially landed a spot on the list, becoming the first Raven featured in this year’s edition. While the full rankings are still rolling out, Hamilton’s early placement is a statement—not just about his individual performance, but about his rising status as one of the league’s premier defensive playmakers.
For Ravens fans, it comes as no surprise. Anyone who watched Baltimore’s 2024 campaign saw Hamilton fly all over the field, dismantling passing games, blowing up screen plays, and providing the kind of versatility that defensive coordinators dream of. Still, for a player in just his third season to earn recognition from his peers in such a significant way is a powerful indicator of his growing reputation throughout the league.
“It’s an honor,” Hamilton said in a brief reaction video aired during the NFL Network’s broadcast. “To be respected by guys I line up against every Sunday—that’s what makes this list mean something. But I’m not satisfied. I want to keep climbing.”
Climbing is exactly what Hamilton has done since entering the league. Drafted in the first round by Baltimore in 2022 out of Notre Dame, he arrived with high expectations and elite traits—length, range, instincts, and intelligence. After a rookie season that saw flashes of brilliance mixed with a learning curve typical for young safeties, Hamilton truly broke out in 2023. But it was the 2024 season where he firmly established himself as one of the league’s most valuable defensive chess pieces.
Under defensive coordinator Zach Orr, Hamilton became the centerpiece of a hybrid defensive scheme built on speed, disguise, and physicality. Whether lining up in a two-deep shell, covering tight ends in man coverage, blitzing off the edge, or crashing into the box like a linebacker, Hamilton thrived in every role. His combination of size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) and explosiveness allowed the Ravens to be unpredictable and aggressive without giving up structural integrity.
By season’s end, Hamilton had compiled 85 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and a forced fumble. But even those numbers fail to fully capture his impact. He erased tight ends in coverage. He sniffed out jet sweeps before the ball was even snapped. He was, in many ways, the perfect modern NFL safety—equally effective in run support and deep coverage, with the ability to shift from centerfield to the line of scrimmage in a blink.
Opposing coaches and players began to take notice. In pre-game press conferences and post-game interviews, Hamilton’s name routinely surfaced. Veteran quarterbacks praised his football IQ. Receivers called him “deceptively fast.” Offensive coordinators lamented the challenge of scheming around his presence. And now, with this Top 100 recognition, Hamilton joins the national conversation about the league’s elite defenders.
Former Raven and Hall of Famer Ed Reed, a mentor and idol to many young safeties, recently commented on Hamilton’s rise. “He’s got all the tools,” Reed said during an offseason panel. “More importantly, he’s humble, he studies the game, and he plays the right way. Baltimore’s in good hands with 14 patrolling the back end.”
For the Ravens organization, Hamilton’s appearance on the list is also a symbol of continuity and excellence. Baltimore has long been known for defensive greatness—Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, the aforementioned Ed Reed. Now, in a new generation and era of football, Hamilton is carrying that torch.
Team president Sashi Brown and general manager Eric DeCosta have often spoken about building around smart, high-character, versatile players. Hamilton checks all those boxes. Off the field, he’s calm, thoughtful, and articulate. On the field, he’s violent and instinctive. That duality has made him a fan favorite and a locker room leader even as one of the youngest players on the roster.
“He’s mature beyond his years,” head coach John Harbaugh said during minicamp. “He watches film like a 10-year vet, and he plays with the hunger of a rookie trying to prove something. That’s a rare combination.”
Hamilton’s rise also reflects the league’s evolving understanding of what makes a great safety. In years past, Top 100 nods were often reserved for sack artists, interception leaders, or traditional shutdown corners. But in today’s NFL, versatility reigns supreme. With offenses running more motion, spreading the field with athletic tight ends, and attacking the middle of the field with crossing concepts, the value of a do-it-all safety has never been higher.
“Kyle’s not just a safety,” said Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson. “He’s a weapon. We line him up everywhere because we know he can handle it—and he wants that responsibility.”
That versatility may also be the reason why Hamilton is expected to climb even higher in future editions of the list. Despite his impressive stats, he doesn’t benefit from the flashy highlight reels that wide receivers and edge rushers often enjoy. His impact is more subtle—taking away a quarterback’s first read, forcing an audible, funneling a play back inside where help awaits. It’s those details, often missed by casual viewers but appreciated deeply by fellow players, that earned him his first Top 100 nod.
“You notice a guy like Hamilton when you’re preparing to play Baltimore,” said Browns tight end David Njoku. “He can line up over you in the slot, drop into deep coverage, or rush the passer. You’ve got to account for him every snap.”
Hamilton’s inclusion on the list is also a morale booster for a Ravens team coming off a near-miss in 2024. After a dominant regular season, Baltimore’s playoff run ended in disappointment with a heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. That loss left a sour taste, but also lit a fire.
During offseason workouts, Hamilton has taken on a more vocal role, organizing film sessions, leading drills, and mentoring rookies. With several veterans departed or aging, the coaching staff sees Hamilton as a pillar of the defense for years to come.
“Being on that list is cool,” Hamilton said in a recent interview. “But I’d trade all of that for a Super Bowl. That’s the goal. That’s the only list I care about—the list of champions.”
Still, for a young player to already be recognized among the league’s elite is a testament to both his talent and his trajectory. If the early portion of the NFL Top 100 list is any indication, Hamilton could very well be the first of several Ravens to appear this year—names like Roquan Smith, Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, and Justin Madubuike all have strong cases.
But Hamilton being first feels fitting. He represents not only the next generation of Baltimore football, but also the evolution of the modern NFL defender. Long, athletic, smart, and positionless—he’s not a box safety or a deep safety, he’s just a playmaker.
And that kind of player doesn’t just show up in highlights. He shows up on lists like these—voted on by his peers, earned through sweat, tape, and undeniable production.
As the countdown continues, Ravens fans will be watching to see who else makes the cut. But they can already take pride in knowing their future is in good hands—hands that belong to a safety who can do it all, and who’s just getting started.
Kyle Hamilton is the first Raven on the 2025 NFL Top 100 list, and something tells us he won’t be the last.
