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Stephen A. gives Mad Dog an earful over Lamar Jackson (0:44)
Stephen A. Smith challenges Chris "Mad Dog" Russo for rating Joe Burrow higher than Lamar Jackson on ESPN's NFL player rankings. (0:44)
Jamison HensleyAug 27, 2025, 12:15 PM ET
- Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Kyle Hamilton and the Baltimore Ravens have reached agreement on a four-year, $100.4 million extension that is the largest deal for a safety in NFL history, his agents, Kyle McCarthy and Brian Murphy of Athletes First, told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
The deal includes $82 million guaranteed, surpassing the previous record of $45 million for a safety. The $25.1 million average annual value on the deal also pushes Hamilton past the Detroit Lions' Kerby Joseph ($21.25 million) for tops in the NFL.
The extension ties Hamilton to Baltimore through the 2030 season.
"I think the deal really does speak to how we feel about Kyle," Ravens general manger Eric DeCosta said. "The highest-paid safety in the NFL ... that's a responsibility that 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 are the highest paid, that's an important distinction and I think Kyle has proven that 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."
Hamilton, 24, had been under contract through 2026 after Baltimore picked up his fifth-year option this offseason. DeCosta said talks on this deal heated up three weeks ago.
The No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Hamilton is one of the most versatile safeties in the game. Over the past three seasons, he is the only defensive back to total at least 15 tackles for loss, five sacks and five interceptions, and he has been named to an All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl each of the past two seasons.
"One of the things you love about Kyle is he's kind of a unicorn," DeCosta said. "He can do many different things. He does them all very well."
