PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s hard to find a mock draft where Kyle Hamilton is picked after the top dozen. Then why is the Notre Dame safety visiting the Steelers?
It would seem like a waste of time to talk to a player who may not get out of the top five let along drop to where the Steelers pick at 20. Is this the Steelers doing their due diligence? Do they believe his slower than expected 40 time will cause a crazy drop in draft boards? Is this why the team has yet to sign a starting safety?
Hamilton’s athleticism is crazy. He’s 6’4”, 220-pounds, has a 33-inch reach and not only plays safety but is the size of a hybrid. The only reason he would not a top-five pick is because of the 4.59 40-yard dash. Let’s note he suffered a knee injury against USC that ended his college career. It wasn’t known the severity of it, but Hamilton wanted to compete at the NFL Combine. He would run a 4.56 later at his Pro Day at Notre Dame. Still, this might scare away a few teams, but enough to fall to the Steelers?
Few saw it coming a few years ago when the Steelers traded 10 spots up to pick Devin Bush. At the time, they needed speed at the linebacker position after Ryan Shazier’s injury. Hamilton plays faster than the 40-time shows, he can play nearly everywhere on the defense. Need him to blitz, he can do that. Need physicality against the run, he’s good at that.
In only three seasons with the Fighting Irish, Hamilton had 97 solo tackles in 31 games. The Atlanta native, and son of a college and pro basketball player, added 7.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions and 16 passes defended. In the two biggest games of his career, he showed up biggest. Hamilton with a career-high 10 tackles, an interception and pass breakup in the ACC Championship game and in the College Football Playoffs, six solo tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
Teams only get 30 in person visits. Considering all of the team’s needs, they wouldn’t throw away an opportunity to sit down with someone who not only can help them, but would be realistic in joining them.