The Ravens have been one of the best drafting teams under Eric DeCosta
The Baltimore Ravens did not miss a beat when transitioning from legendary general manager Ozzie Newsome to his long-time understudy Eric DeCosta in 2019, keeping the team’s reputation as one of the best organizations at drafting and developing players. DeCosta has been particularly strong in the first round, with every selection since 2019 being a hit on some scale. DeCosta has also uncovered several mid-to-late round gems, such as defensive tackles Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones in the third round, tight end Isaiah Likely and running back Justice Hill in the fourth round, and safety Geno Stone in the seventh round.
Today’s Question of the Day is:
What has been the best draft pick under Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta?
My answer: Safety Kyle Hamilton
The Ravens selected the Notre Dame star with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hamilton began the draft process as one of the certified top prospects, but a slower-than-expected 40-yard-dash time of 4.59 seconds dropped his stock enough to allow Baltimore to land the steal of the draft. Hamilton is a true unicorn at the safety position with his combination of size, instincts, and speed despite running a slower 40-yard dash.
No secondary player impacts opposing offenses as much as Hamilton does when he is aligned in the slot. Screen passes to his side of the field are essentially wasted plays. Hamilton also showed the ability to play the deep safety role on the backend of the defense at a top level when he replaced veteran Marcus Williams midway through the 2024 season. If Hamilton continues on his perennial All-Pro trajectory and remains with the Ravens past his rookie deal, he could finish his career near the top of a long list of defensive superstars to wear the purple and black.
Madubuike was my runner-up for DeCosta’s best draft pick. The 2020 third-round undersized defensive tackle finally lived up to his potential in 2023, notching 13 sacks and earning a lucrative second contract with the team. Madubuike may be the best combination of talent, production, and value of DeCosta’s picks thus far, but Hamilton edged him out for my choice due to being a superior player.
What do you think has been DeCosta’s best draft pick? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!