Alohi Gilman’s Arrival Unlocks Ravens’ Defense, Frees Up Kyle Hamilton

And that’s where Hamilton comes in.

Hamilton, a former first-round pick, is one of the league’s most dynamic defenders. But early this season, he was stuck playing center field, too often cleaning up other people’s mistakes. Now, with Gilman handling deep coverage responsibilities — or switching into strong safety when needed — Hamilton has moved closer to the line of scrimmage. The result: a completely different defense.

He’s lining up in the box more than he has in years, operating like a hybrid linebacker-safety. He’s crashing down in run support, blitzing off the edge, disrupting tight ends and slot receivers, and generally wreaking havoc. His snap counts in the box have surged, and the results speak for themselves. The Ravens’ defense has clamped down on points and forced more turnovers since the move.

But it’s not just Gilman and Hamilton driving the shift. Rookie Malaki Starks has stepped in and made the three-safety look not just possible, but dangerous. The Ravens aren’t just pairing two safeties anymore — they’re rotating three.

Starks, drafted in the first round out of Georgia, has adapted quickly to NFL speed. He’s fast, physical, and shows instincts well beyond his age. He’s been used in a flexible role — sometimes deep, sometimes in the slot, sometimes even up near the edge. That versatility gives Orr even more tools to disguise coverages and mix looks pre-snap.

With Starks, Hamilton and Gilman all on the field, the Ravens can toggle between coverages, show two-high shells, rotate down late, or bring disguised pressures from the secondary. Hamilton is the tone-setter near the line, Gilman locks down the back end or rotates forward as needed, and Starks operates as the pivot point — able to plug in wherever the situation demands.

The personnel ripple effect goes beyond just the secondary. With Hamilton in the box and Starks helping eliminate vertical threats, Baltimore’s linebackers and defensive front have been more aggressive. Offensive lines can’t predict where the pressure is coming from or who’s dropping into coverage. That stress creates mistakes — and the Ravens are capitalizing.

Gilman hasn’t just been a plug-in veteran. His ability to move between free and strong safety has allowed the Ravens to reimagine how they deploy their best player. Hamilton is no longer a last line of defense — he’s now the point of attack. And with a rookie like Starks already proving he belongs, Baltimore suddenly has a three-headed safety group that can match up with just about anything modern offenses throw at them.

The Ravens needed a spark after a rough defensive start. They got it by making a bold personnel move and adjusting their structure to maximize talent. Gilman brought reliability and versatility. Hamilton brought chaos. And Starks brought balance. Together, they’ve helped shift the identity of a unit that’s finally playing like a Ravens defense again.

This isn’t just a midseason adjustment — it looks like a foundational change. And it might be what Baltimore needs to make a real push come January.