2022 NFL Draft Notebook: Kyle Hamilton is truly an elite prospect

One of the more intriguing prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. What makes Hamilton such an intriguing prospect is that he is one of the top players in the draft, but also plays a position that doesn’t normally go high in the draft. This raises the question of how high will team’s value Hamilton in this year’s draft.

Along with taking a look at one of the top players in the 2022 NFL Draft this week’s NFL Draft Notebook also takes a look at the following:

• Two Michigan Wolverines seeing their NFL Draft stock rise
• The 2022 NFL Draft safety class
• A player each NFC West team shoulder consider with their top draft pick
• And much more

The Unicorn

In the 2021 NFL Draft, we saw several people call Florida tight end Kyle Pitts a unicorn because of his combination of athletic ability, speed, and size. This unique blend of talent allowed Pitts to be the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history when he went to the Atlanta Falcons with the fourth pick overall. This year we have another prospect who can be described as a unicorn and might be the highest draft player at his position since 1991. That prospect is Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.

What makes Hamilton such a highly regarded prospect is that he is the textbook definition of a complete safety. He has the ability to come up in the box and support the run, or line up one on one vs. both tight ends or slot receivers and dominate in both areas. Along with his impressive play on the field he also is one of the better athletes in the 2022 NFL Draft and has the size NFL teams crave in a safety.

When watching film of Hamilton in coverage several positive traits standout with the first one being his range. A great example of this happened in the first game of the year against Florida State where he came from the opposite hashmark to make a diving interception out of bounds. To go along with the range in pass coverage he has the fluid hips needed to stay toe to toe with the best slot receivers in the NFL. He also possesses the size to handle the tight ends he will be asked to cover as he is listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds.

Hamilton is one of the rare safeties who is equally capable of playing the pass and the run which is one of the main reasons he is worth a top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. One of the reasons Hamilton is such a force vs the run is that he is a sure tackler. He does a great job of tackling with proper form and this past season only missed two tackles according to Pro Football Focus. Another trait working in Hamilton’s favor vs. the run is how aggressive he plays when attacking the ball carrier.

If this were not enough to make him a high draft pick his outstanding athletic testing numbers should do the trick. Hamilton was named Bruce Feldman’s number three freak athlete in college football this year and his testing numbers back up why. According to Feldman, Hamilton posted a 41.7″ vertical jump which would have been second-best among safeties at the NFL Combine last year. Hamilton was also able to post a 10’8″ broad jump which would have been the fourth-best mark of safeties at the 2021 NFL Combine. In addition to these testing numbers, Hamilton has also been recorded running at 21 miles per hour by Notre Dame’s GPS equipment.

While there is plenty to like about Hamilton he does have some minor concerns as well. One of these is the knee injury that is currently keeping him out of action. While this knee should be fine by the time the combine comes along, teams will still want to check it out thoroughly to see what the chances are of him reinjuring it are. Another issue some teams might have with him is where do you line him up. However, this is not a valid concern in my opinion as he looks like a natural strong safety due to his ability to hold up well vs the run and matchup against both receivers and tight ends in coverage.

One team that is already showing a lot of interest in Hamilton is the Philadelphia Eagles who have three picks in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. Hamilton would be an ideal fit for the Eagles since Anthony Harris is scheduled to be a free agent, Rodney McLeod is getting up there in age, and K’Von Wallace continues to have his struggles. A couple of other teams who might be good fits for Hamilton include the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up

Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson established himself as a top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft with his outstanding effort against Ohio State. He finished the game with 15 total pressures, three sacks and a pass-rush grade of 91 by Pro Football Focus. According to Pro Football Focus, those 15 pressures are the most by any edge defender against a Power Five offensive line in a single game this season and are more than any single team was able to account for against Ohio State.

Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan

While Aidan Hutchinson had a big impact on the defensive side of the ball, the star on the offensive side of the ball for the Wolverines was running back Hassas Haskins. Haskins became the first player in history to rush for five touchdowns vs. the Buckeyes and was also able to for 169 yards on the ground. This is the third time in four games Haskins has rushed for over 150 yards, having also accounted for 156 yards vs Penn State and 168 yards vs Indiana.

Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson

Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth showed why he has a first-round draft grade on my draft board with his performance against South Carolina. Against the Gamecocks he was only targeted four times but was still able to come away with two picks. In this game, he displayed his top-notch ball skills, agility and fluid hips that make him one of the top cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

While Auburn’s Roger McCreary can’t be happy with the way the Alabama game ended he does have to be happy with his overall performance. The game ended with John Metchie III getting the better of him on the game winning two-point play, but other than that McCreary looked like a possible first-round pick. He was able to break up a total of four passes on the day and showed he can jostle with the best receivers in the SEC.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down

Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State

Going into last weekend’s game against Michigan one of the top draft matchups to watch was how Nicholas Petit-Frere would fare against Michigan edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. Unfortunately, for Petit-Frere, Hutchinson and Ojabo won this matchup pretty easily. Some of the issues Petit-Frere had in this game included being overpowered by bull rushers and being out of position which led to him getting called for holding. This game showed that Petit-Frere is more of a third-round prospect than the first round grade some people have given him.

Cade Otton, TE, Washington

Washington tight end Cade Otton did not end his college career the way he had hoped for. He finished the year battling a leg injury that kept him out of the last games of the season. He also saw his production significantly fall this past season, having career lows in both touchdowns (one) and yards per catch (8.9).

Nick Starkel, QB, San Jose State

One of the most disappointing teams in college football this season was San Jose State. After going 7-1 last season, the Spartans finished the 2021 season at 5-7 and one of the reasons for this was the disappointing play of quarterback Nick Starkel. Starkel saw a significant drop in his completion percentage this season going from 64% in 2020 to 52% in 2021, and also saw a decrease in the number of touchdowns he threw for go down from 17 to nine. This poor performance made Starkel go from someone hoping to hear his name called at the end of the 2022 NFL Draft to someone who will be happy to get a call for a tryout at rookie mini-camp.

DeMarvion Overshown, OLB, Texas

Another team that had a disappointing year this season was Texas who finished the year at 5-7 which is their first losing season since 2016. While outside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown had a strong season, another concern could raise some red flags for NFL scouts. This issue is the foot injury that kept him out of the Kansas State game. If this is a significant injury it could affect his pre-draft training and is definitely something teams will check out at the NFL Combine.

2022 NFL Draft: Safety Rankings

Most underrated: Devon Matthews, Indiana

One of the more underrated players in the 2022 NFL Draft is Devon Matthews of Indiana, who is rated as the 78th best safety by Draft Scout. This ranking is ridiculously low as Matthews has all the skills to be a day three pick. These skills include ideal size, the ability to hold up in coverage, and being a reliable run defender. One concern he will need to answer though is his speed, but if he can post a solid 40-yard dash it is not out of the question to see him going in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Most overrated: Isaiah Pola-Mao, USC

A player who I would have a hard time even bringing in as a priority free agent yet is still being projected to go as high as the second round by some NFL Draft websites is USC safety Isaiah Pola-Mao. While Pola-Mao has the size to catch your attention coming in at 6-foot-4, he offers very little else that makes you think he can make it in the NFL. His biggest issue is his inability to consistently make the tackle and he has also had his share of struggles in pass coverage this season.

Sleeper: Kenderick Duncan, Louisville

A player who could be a steal in the 2022 NFL Draft is Kenderick Duncan. Duncan spent his first four seasons at Georgia Southern before transferring to Louisville this season, and he has been productive at both spots. Some of the traits that make Duncan such a promising athlete is his ball skills, consistent tackling ability, and despite being a larger safety showing he is an agile athlete who can hold up in coverage.

Biggest risk: Tykee Smith, Georgia

It would be a mistake for Georgia’s Tykee Smith to enter the 2022 NFL Draft, as he missed all but two games this year due to injury. He also missed the first five games of the 21 season due to a foot injury he suffered in fall camp. He then tore his ACL in early October of that year which kept him out the rest of the season. If he decided to come out after the season it would be hard to see a team taking him before the sixth or seventh round, but if he comes back next year with a strong season he could be a day two pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Player who had a breakout year: Otis Reese, Ole Miss

A player who had a breakout this season is Otis Reese of Ole Miss. Reese started his career off at Georgia where he was a backup and was only able to record 16 tackles over two seasons. He was then forced to miss most of last year due to transfer rules. However, this season he has been one of the better safeties in the SEC having recorded 86 tackles.

Special teams standout: Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee

A player who offers intriguing potential on special teams is Reed Blankenship of Middle Tennessee. What stands out about his game that should translate to special teams is his consistent ability to make the tackle in the open field. This season Blankenship became Middle Tennessee’s all-time leading tackler, and in 2018 had 107 tackles. He also has experience making players on special teams having returned punts and tying for the FBS lead with two blocked kicks in 2019.

2022 NFL Draft Safety Overall Rankings

1. Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame (first round)
2. Daxton Hill, Michigan (first round)
3. Jaquan Brisker, Penn State (second round)
4. Jordan Battle, Alabama (third round)
5. Brandon Joseph, Northwestern (third round)
6. Jalen Catalon, Arkansas (third round)
7. Smoke Monday, Auburn (third round)
8. Avery Young, Rutgers (third round)
9. Chris Smith, Georgia (fourth round)
10. Jammie Robinson, Florida State (fourth round)
11. Verone McKinley, Oregon (fourth round)
12. Trenton Thompson, San Diego State (fourth round)
13. Kenderick Duncan, Louisville (fifth round)
14. Trevon Flowers, Tennessee (fifth round)
15. JT Woods, Baylor (fifth round)
16. Lewis Cine, Georgia (fifth round)
17. Dane Belton, Iowa (fifth round)
18. Nick Cross, Maryland (fifth round)
19. Jalen Pitre, Baylor (fifth round)
20. Brad Hawkins, Michigan (fifth round)
21. Otis Reese, Ole Miss (fifth round)
22. Devon Matthews, Indiana (sixth round)
23. Trey Dean III, Florida (sixth round)
24. Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee (sixth round)
25. Bubba Bolden, Miami (sixth round)
26. Xavier Henderson, Michigan State (sixth round)
27. Tykee Smith, Georgia (sixth round)
28. Rashad Wisdom, UTSA (sixth round)
29. Bryan Cook, Cincinnati (sixth round)
30. Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State (sixth round)
31. Tycen Anderson, Toledo (sixth round)
32. Demani Richardson, Texas A&M (sixth round)
33. Kolby Harvell-Peel, Oklahoma State (seventh round)
34. TieNeal Martin, Tulsa (seventh round)
35. Nolan Turner, Clemson (seventh round)
36. Jalen Green, Mississippi State (seventh round)
37. Elijah Hicks, California (seventh round)
38. A.J. Finley, Ole Miss (seventh round)
39. Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Indiana (free agent)
40. Tre Sterling, Oklahoma State (free agent)
41. Jack Koerner, Iowa ((free agent)
42. Percy Butler, Louisiana ( free agent)
43. Deontai Williams, Nebraska (free agent)
44. Yusuf Corker, Kentucky (free agent)
45. Markquese Bell, Florida A&M (free agent)
46. Quindell Johnson, Memphis (free agent)
47. Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech (free agent)
48. Kendrick Whitehead, Delaware (free agent)
49. Bryce Cosby, Ball State (free agent)
50. Greg Eisworth, Iowa State (free agent)
51. Leon O’Neal, Texas A&M (free agent)
52. Isaiah Pola-Mao, USC (free agent)

Prospects For The NFC West

A look at one prospect each NFC West team might take with their top draft pick.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals biggest needs currently for the 2022 NFL Draft are defensive end and tight end, but with them picking at the end of round one no player at those positions seems like a great value. This means the Cardinals could either trade down or address another position which I have them doing with this pick. The player I currently project them taking is Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III. The running back position could become a need as both James Conner and Chase Edmonds are scheduled to be free agents, and Walker would be capable of being a true number one back in Kliff Kingsbury’s system.

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams will likely not see much of an impact from the 2022 NFL Draft class since they are not scheduled to pick until the end of the third round. With that being said an area they would be wise to upgrade is their run defense which has been disappointing at times this season. A player who could help in this area is Travis Jones of UConn. Coming in at 6-foot-5 and 328 pounds and bench pressing 455 pounds he has the size and strength to clog up the middle.

San Francisco 49ers

Another team that doesn’t have a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is the San Francisco 49ers who traded the pick last year to move up and draft Trey Lance. This means the 49ers first pick will come in the second round and the team could look to address several positions with this pick including cornerback, wide receiver and offensive guard. A player who would make sense in the second round and would fill one of these needs is cornerback Derion Kendrick of Georgia.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks will likely have plenty of offseason needs this year, and without a first-round pick they are going to have to hit on some day two and day three picks. One of these needs will likely be at offensive tackle as Duane Brown, Brandon Shell and Jamarco Jones will all be free agents after the year. A local product who could play either right or left tackle for the Seahawks is Jaxson Kirkland of Washington.

Scouting Notes

• There is no doubt Alabama safety Jordan Battle is a talented prospect however he is not the first-round prospect some draftniks project him to be. One of the issues that will likely cause him to the late second round or third round is that he is just an average tackler. At times he takes poor angles when going to make the tackle and he also needs to make sure he wraps up when taking down the ball carrier. He also only has four picks in four seasons, which is a low number for a free safety.
• An FCS offensive tackle to watch at the Senior Bowl is Fordham’s Nick Zakelj. What stands out about Zakeji is how physical he plays. He routinely blocks through the whistle and has the nasty mentality you love to see from an offensive lineman. Another positive with him is his strength which is evident by how often he controls the defensive lineman once he gets his hands on him. An issue with him especially if a team tries to keep him at offensive tackle is that he is only an average athlete who lacks the quick feet to play tackle in the NFL. For this reason, he will likely be moved to offensive guard at the next level.
• The Minnesota Golden Gophers received positive news when running back Mohamed Ibrahim announced he will be returning to school next year. Ibrahim missed all but one game this season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon which happened during the Ohio State game. When healthy though Ibrahim is one of the best backs in the Big Ten having rushed for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2020. If Ibrahim can stay healthy next season and be more involved in the passing game he easily could be a day two pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
• While Rutgers did not have much success on the football field finishing the year at 5-7 they do have one highly thought of prospect in Avery Young. Young started his career off at corner before making the switch to safety this season, and that experience as a corner is what will excite NFL teams. He showed strong cover skills at corner and ranked second in the Power Five for most games with one or fewer catches allowed with seven in 2019. To go along with his cover skills Young is a willing tacker who can be a force vs the run. While Young will likely be a day three pick it would not be a surprise if he eventually became an NFL starter.

Quote Of The Week

“He’s been a tremendous leader for us. Great kid, works really hard for us each day. He takes so much pride in his performance. He is one of the few guys that when I leave the football office at 10, 10:30 he’s still up there watching tape of practice. He’s a gym rat, he loves being around the coaches and GAs and things. He’s just a tremendous young man who has grown so much since being here.” -Georgia head coach Kirby Smart on safety Lewis Cine.