The Ravens' draft selection of Malaki Starks doesn't prevent them from completing their most obvious task of the offseason
The Ravens made a no-brainer move on Wednesday. Baltimore is exercising the fifth-year option of safety Kyle Hamilton, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The Ravens have also declined the fifth-year option for center Tyler Linderbaum. However, general manager and executive vice president Eric DeCosta stated that the goal is to get both players signed long-term. "We […]
The Ravens made a no-brainer move on Wednesday.
Baltimore is exercising the fifth-year option of safety Kyle Hamilton, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
The Ravens have also declined the fifth-year option for center Tyler Linderbaum. However, general manager and executive vice president Eric DeCosta stated that the goal is to get both players signed long-term.
"We are exercising the fifth-year option for Kyle Hamilton, with the goal of working toward a multi-year contract extension," DeCosta said. "While we will not apply the fifth-year option to Tyler Linderbaum, it is our intention for him to remain a Baltimore Raven long-term."
Both Hamilton and Linderbaum were selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The fifth-year option window for that draft class opened back in January, and closes on May 1. All drafted rookies are signed to four-year contracts, and teams have the option to extend players selected in the first round for a fifth year.
However, long-term contract extensions can still be worked out without using the fifth-year option. Since Linderbaum's was declined, that he could be the first to get a deal done. Look for his contract extension to rival Creed Humphrey's of the Kansas City Chiefs, who signed a four-year, $72 million extension last summer.
Baltimore has more time to work out a deal with Hamilton, but could still get it done before the 2026 season. Hamilton has established himself as one of the best safeties in the league, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in each of the past two seasons. In three years he has recorded 250 total tackles, five interceptions, 25 passes defended, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles.
The Ravens' selection of safety Malaki Starks in the 2025 NFL Draft won't hold anything up between them and Hamilton. Hamilton badly needed help in the secondary as Baltimore finished 31st in the NFL against the pass. For an idea of what a contract extension could look like for Hamilton, the Detroit Lions just gave safety Kerby Joseph a four-year, $86 million extension last week.
Baltimore Ravens 2025 Final Draft Grades
Do you agree?
