The New York Giants are in the process of meticulously rebuilding their roster. New general manager Joe Schoen inherited a mess when he took on the Giants’ job. New York was strapped for cash, over $12 million over the salary cap entering this offseason. Schoen has released players, restructured contracts, and been very lowkey with the spending in free agency. In this process, though, new holes have opened on the roster. A major hole has opened up at safety after the recent release of Logan Ryan.
The Giants released Logan Ryan after two seasons with the team. The move did not free up much salary cap space, but it did create another hole on the roster. Xavier McKinney and Julian Love are now the projected starters at the safety positions. What was once a positional strength has now become a weakness. Could this lead the Giants to draft superstar safety Kyle Hamilton in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft?
What Kyle Hamilton could bring to the New York Giants
Notre Dame product Kyle Hamilton is considered by many to be the best player available in this year’s draft class. Hamilton is ranked number one on The Draft Network’s Prospect Rankings and number two on PFF’s Big Board. But due to the nature of Hamilton’s position, safety, he is not expected to be the top selection in the draft. Kyle Hamilton is a very realistic option for the Giants at both the fifth and seventh overall picks that they possess.
Hamilton is really good at making reads in the run game and he fills the lane really well. He also does a good job of shedding blocks from Receivers. pic.twitter.com/TtmOKu1Kfn
— CEO Of Kelly Tripucka Fans (@BeanEnjoyersCEO) March 13, 2022
Kyle Crabbs of TDN says, “Kyle Hamilton might just be the best NFL draft prospect I’ve personally studied since entering into the draft space in 2014.” Rather high praise from a top draft analyst in the business. Hamilton has been described as an “elite tackler” with “tremendous range” at the safety position.
Kyle Hamilton measured out at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. He has freakish size and length at his position and enough athleticism to tie it all together. Hamilton only allowed 1 TD and a 25.6 passer rating when targeted in his college career (819 coverage snaps), according to PFF. In three years at Notre Dame, Kyle Hamilton totaled 8 interceptions, 16 passes defended, and 138 total tackles in 31 career games.
The New York Giants are thin at the safety position and could also use some superstar firepower on defense. With James Bradberry likely to be traded at some point, the Giants’ secondary is only getting worse. Drafting Kyle Hamilton in the first round would be a major boost. Hamilton has the ability to play the single-high safety role that Wink Martindale is known to utilize. This could allow Xavier McKinney to play more slot cornerback. The Giants might have greater needs at other positions. But if the Giants are looking to draft the best player available, Kyle Hamilton will be one of their top targets in the first round.