OWINGS MILLIONS, Md. – Kyle Hamiltonthe road leading to Baltimore Raven started when he made a crazy right turn during his 40-yard run in the NFL mix.
If this were the track, Hamilton would be disqualified for going out of his lane. His punishment for running this way in front of football scouts: free fall in the NFL draft.
Hamilton’s 4.59-second slower-than-expected time ranked 14th among all safety attempts in the combined section and the slowest of all safety attempts made on the first lap of the five final draft. It casts doubt on whether Notre Dame’s safety can cover the ground in the next level, and it causes the one-time, top-five prospect to slide to Raven’s 14th pick overall. body.
The Ravens, who have a history of trusting what they see on the chronograph crossing, are not concerned about Hamilton’s pace.
“You look at the pace of his game [and] what you see on the tape. He’s in the air,” said Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz. “He’s flying. He’s showing explosiveness. He’s showing explosiveness and range. Then you look at your score, your speed score and do you have a good score, and all match and it’s just 40[-yard dash time] not suitable. “
For those of you who haven’t watched it, please watch Kyle Hamilton’s last 40 (~45yds) ️
Ever seen him weave like this in a game? He’s much faster in the movies, stop thinking too much about the prospects! pic.twitter.com/I106lMSF0h
– Luke Carr (TD4LC) (@LukeCarrNFL) March 29, 2022
Typical: Hamilton’s first interception against Florida State last season. Starting at the right pound sign, Hamilton runs to the opposite margin to make a selection. When making the pass, he still needs to cover about 20 meters to get into position to intercept.
In one play, Hamilton displayed exceptional instincts, great scoring ability (he looked at the midfielder and then the receiver before making his clearance) and quickness to apply. close to a ball receiver.
“People talk about his 40s; I can tell you what some of our best players have been through, 40 wise, over the years,” said Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta. “This guy covers the ground with range, speed and awareness. He’s quick. He’s got great eyes. So he can do it all.”
In 2002, Ed Reed’s safety plummeted against the Ravens in 24th overall after he ran for 40 yards in 4.57 seconds (roughly the same time Hamilton did). Reed has gone on to become one of the game’s best dribbling hawks and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
In 2003, linebacker Terrell’s suggestion slipped down to Baltimore in 10th overall for being 40 times late. Then-Ravens coach Brian Billick joked that Suggs would never have to run 40 yards to reach quarterback. Proposed to be the franchise’s all-time subsidized leader and 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
No Ravens official would compare Hamilton to Reed or Suggs. But Baltimore is confident Hamilton can become the latest first-round defensive pick to change the game.
Hamilton can take turns in deep coverage or stop the run by lining up in the box. He has the lowest Total QBR allowed (5.9) in FBS as a targeted defender in coverage since 2019, according to Sports Info Solutions. Hamilton also only allowed one touch of coverage in his entire college career.
“He was like a chess piece,” Hortiz said. “So you see that, and you’re agitated because you got the chance to put him in [Pick] 14 and that he has fallen into your hands. That’s why you just think he’s leaving, because he’s a player who plays at different levels of defence. “
Despite that flexibility, Hamilton knew his 40-yard run would ruin his chances of becoming one of the first players to be enlisted. Before running at the complex, he looked at the video board at the stadium, there was a comparison chart of him with Derwin James, safe for the All-Pro twice for the first team. After his disappointing 40s, his comparison on the video board changed to Jeremy Chinna second-round pick, who became a solid starter for the Panthers.
But Hamilton is still not expected to fall that far. His chance of making it to pick 14 is 32%, according to ESPN’s draft date prediction.
Hamilton, however, did not complain about where he landed.
“I just talked to Coach [John Harbaugh] before about how we would look back 10 years later and realize it was the perfect fit and everything happened for the right reasons,” Hamilton said before his introductory press conference, before adding some brief. “Selfish, [this is] a great defensive organization and have produced some pretty good players. There is a pretty good security [Reed]and then a supporter [Ray Lewis] that’s pretty good, i think. So hopefully I can just add to that and fill those shoes. ”
