The Ravens wasted little time locking down their most important defensive player.
Baltimore agreed to a big-money contract extension with star safety Kyle Hamilton late Tuesday. The deal, which kicks in after the 2026 season, ensures Hamilton, 24, stays in Charm City for the foreseeable future.
It also cements Hamilton's place in the league's hierarchy of safeties. With his record-breaking contract, Hamilton — a two-time Pro Bowler who earned All-Pro recognition in 2023 — sets the market for the safety position in the coming few seasons.
Pen to paper on the biggest safety contract in the NFL‼️ pic.twitter.com/Gt5YSVtTdp
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 27, 2025
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Here's what you need to know.
Kyle Hamilton contract details
- Years: Four
- Value: $100.4 million
Hamilton has drawn plenty of praise since being selected No. 14 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Baltimore's front office gave him the ultimate recognition on Tuesday, handing Hamilton the largest safety contract in NFL history.
Hamilton's contract includes $82 million guaranteed, far more than Antoine Winfield Jr.'s $45 million figure, the previous NFL record. It is the 10th-largest guaranteed money mark among defensive players, only bested by pass-rushing mavens.
"I think the deal speaks to how we feel about Kyle — highest paid safety in the NFL," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a press conference. "That's a responsibility we don't take lightly. We've had a few players over the years become the highest paid at their position, and I think when you're the highest paid, that's an important distinction. And I think Kyle's proven he's going to carry that very well, and we expect him to continue to be an impact player on our defense for years to come."
MORE: The NFL's highest-paid players on defense in 2025 salary, guaranteed money and total contract value
Hamilton is among the league's most versatile players. In 2023, he anchored Baltimore's defense as a ballhawk, earning a first-team All-Pro nod after recording 82 tackles, 13 pass deflections and four interceptions. In 2024, he took on a different mantle, starting the year as a box safety. He posted career highs in tackles (107) and quarterback hits (six). Come season's end, though, he was back to his swashbuckling best in the outfield. Hamilton finished ninth in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Baltimore fancies itself a Super Bowl contender in 2025 and beyond. Locking down Hamilton for the foreseeable future lends further credence to that claim.