Following the departure of veteran Chuck Clark this offseason, rising sophomore Kyle Hamilton is projected to fit into the beginning robust security function for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.

Hamilton, the No. 14 total choose in final 12 months’s draft, is coming off a robust rookie marketing campaign, the place he emerged as a key defensive piece for the crew over the second half of the season. In changing Clark because the full-time starter at security, Hamilton will work in tandem with Marcus Williams as the brand new beginning place duo.

We didn’t see this mix a lot in any respect in 2022 for a number of causes. With Clark taking part in 100% of defensive snaps at robust security, Hamilton settled right into a nickel/slot defender function, the place he finally thrived because the 12 months progressed. As a real security, although, his snaps had been minimal. Moreover, Williams missed almost half the common season after struggling a dislocated wrist damage early within the 12 months.

Regardless of this pairing have little observe file collectively, expectations and recognition alike are excessive. PFF’s Jim Wyman not too long ago listed the NFL’s greatest duos at each place and the Ravens had been his choose on the security spot. He touted all of Hamilton’s excessive grades in superior metrics as a part of the reasoning.

“Hamilton quietly put collectively a dominant rookie 12 months of his personal, as he led all safeties in PFF grade at 87.6,” Wyman wrote. “Hamilton had a minimum of an 83.0 PFF grade in all 4 main grading classes. He had an 87.7 run protection grade, 85.7 as a pass-rusher and 83.0 in protection, giving him about as well-rounded a rookie season as we’ve ever seen.”

He additionally famous that Williams had a down 12 months grading-wise however nonetheless profiles as a top-end participant on the place.

“Williams, then again, is coming off his lowest-ranked PFF grade season since 2018, and he nonetheless graded amongst the highest 20 safeties within the league with a 73.9 PFF grade,” Wyman mentioned.

Hamilton’s effectiveness in all three sides of protection — in opposition to the run, in go protection, and speeding the quarterback — makes him particularly versatile. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see his transition into taking part in a extra true security function in 2023. Whereas that’s his pure background, once more it’s not what he did for the Ravens in his rookie season. Hamilton was primarily near the road of scrimmage and masking slot pass-catchers in man protection.

With extra free roam and adaptability, it’s very potential Hamilton might blossom much more, particularly now with a 12 months of comfortability below his belt. Hamilton’s first few video games in 2022 had been up-and-down however he improved considerably in November onwards. By January, he was one of many protection’s most essential gamers.

As for Williams, whereas his PFF grade was a five-year low mark, he was nonetheless lots efficient in his first season with the Ravens. He started the 12 months on a sizzling streak with a number of interceptions via the opening month earlier than getting injured.

Upon returning later within the 12 months, he didn’t make fairly as many impression performs however his presence in go protection was nonetheless evident. Now again at 100% heading into 2023, Hamilton would possibly even be flying below the radar a bit, as he’s one of many league’s prime safeties in go protection.

Hamilton and Williams’ talent units complement one another properly and it is going to be thrilling to see how defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald deploys them collectively within the secondary this season.