Many view Kyle Hamilton as one of, if not the most talented player in the 2022 NFL Draft. Yet, his positional value (safety) may see him fall further than his overall skill set warrants. What are Hamilton’s current NFL Draft projections heading into Notre Dame’s Pro Day?
NFL Mock Draft 2022: Kyle Hamilton’s draft projections
Notre Dame’s Hamilton is a physical freak of nature. At 6’4″ and 220 pounds, his frame is closer to a linebacker/edge rusher than a defensive back. His 33″ arms offer him increased disruptability at the catch point and a wider tackling range. On top of his size, Hamilton’s play speed and range are utterly ridiculous downfield.
Sure, he recorded just a 4.59 40-yard dash, 6.90 three-cone, and 4.32 short shuttle at the NFL Combine. All of those numbers are underwhelming compared to expectations, but expect Hamilton to best those marks at his pro day. Additionally, his 38″ vertical and 10’11” broad were exceptional for his size.
On the Pro Football Network Big Board, Hamilton checks in as the top safety. Furthermore, he is the No. 1 overall prospect on PFN Draft Analysts Ian Cummings and Oliver Hodgkinson’s personal rankings. Calling Hamilton a safety is a disservice. He is a defensive weapon. He can blitz off the edge, fit the run from the box, erase tight ends and runnings backs in coverage, patrol the deep middle, and clamp the slot all the same.
NFL Mock Draft 2022: PFN’s top consensus landing spots
In Cummings’ recent 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft released on March 7, the Jets stole Hamilton with the 10th overall selection. Head coach Robert Saleh would be ecstatic if the Notre Dame Swiss Army knife fell this far. Saleh knows how to maximize the talents of his defensive personnel, and having a chess piece of Hamilton’s caliber would open up the schematic possibilities.
Ian compared the Fighting Irish star to a defensive stalwart residing in Denver: “Hamilton is supremely explosive, and at the safety position, explosiveness carries more weight — especially when you’re a 6’4″ behemoth with long-strider speed. In this lens, Hamilton compares fairly well to Broncos star Justin Simmons.”
PFN NFL Analyst Dalton Miller had a similar projection, with Hamilton yet again slipping to 10th overall. As mentioned earlier, much of the reason for mock drafts having Hamilton outside of the top five picks is due to the value a traditional safety brings. But that’s the issue — Hamilton is no “traditional” safety. Would Kam Chancellor or Derwin James (at full health) slide this far, knowing what we know now? That’s not hyperbole, either. Hamilton’s ceiling is that high.
Where does Hamilton land on other draft boards?
ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks Hamilton as his fourth-best prospect in the class, stating, “He’s exactly what NFL teams want in their first-round safeties.” Fellow ESPN draft pundit Todd McShay was a tad higher on Hamilton, ranking him third on his board. McShay added, “Hamilton is a nightmare matchup for offenses. He has great size and closing burst while playing all over the defense.”
Similarly, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah places Hamilton’s NFL Draft projection firmly in the top five as his third overall prospect. Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler listed Hamilton fifth, sandwiched between edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux (fourth) and Travon Walker (sixth).
With so many brilliant NFL Draft minds of interchangeable opinions, I believe Hamilton will hear his name called within the first 10 picks in April. His floor is likely the Jets at No. 10, while his ceiling is possibly the Texans at No. 3. Whichever team selects the Notre Dame safety will receive a franchise-altering defender, which is rare in today’s offensive-trending league.
