Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) intercepts a pass against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Hamilton will soon become the NFL’s first $100 million safety and is No. 2 on the list behind Antoine Winfield. Marcus Williams dealt with injuries in 2023 and still lands in the top five.
2. KYLE HAMILTON, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Hamilton was the NFL’s highest-graded safety as a rookie in 2022 (87.6), and he nearly replicated that in his second season, earning an 86.4 PFF overall grade.
While Hamilton led all safeties in pass-rush grade and was the only player at the position to earn pass-rush and coverage grades over 90.0 in 2023, he could stand to improve in run defense, which keeps him out of this list’s top spot.
5. MARCUS WILLIAMS, BALTIMORE RAVENS
After playing at least 999 snaps in all five of his seasons with the Saints, Williams has failed to log more than 800 snaps in either of his first two years in Baltimore. But when he is on the field, he is still among the best safeties in the league, especially in coverage.
Williams’ 76.4 PFF coverage grade in 2023 ranked 16th among safeties, and he places sixth among 94 qualifying safeties in coverage grade (92.5) since entering the league in 2017.