Former Notre Dame star Kyle Hamilton slated in top five of updated Mel Kiper mock draft

Even after getting hurt for Notre Dame this past season, Kyle Hamilton was still seen as an early first-round draft pick. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. remained high on him in his latest mock draft.

In his Mock Draft 2.0, Kiper projected Hamilton to the New York Jets as the No. 4 overall pick. It’s consistent with his Mock Draft 1.0, which had the same projection. It’d be a huge boost for the Jets’ defense under defensive-minded coach Robert Saleh.

“I’m going to stick with Hamilton to the Jets, who were awful in the secondary in 2021 and could lose Marcus Maye in free agency,” Kiper wrote. “Because I know you’re thinking it, no, this is not too high to take a safety. Not a safety like Hamilton, who can make a massive impact against the run and pass. He had eight career interceptions at Notre Dame and could play multiple spots along the defense at the next level.

“Hamilton is a versatile playmaker who will make a defense better on Day 1. The Jets still have another first-round pick to try to improve their offense.”

Hamilton appeared in seven games for Notre Dame this season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Still, he had 34 tackles and three interceptions for the Fighting Irish, who ended up finishing 11-2 in 2021.

NFL draft experts name their favorite fit for Notre Dame product Kyle Hamilton

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah answered questions from media Friday afternoon via Zoom to preview the 2022 NFL Draft, and has some exciting words to describe Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton.

“There’s a real debate going on around the league about just how high you take safeties,” Jeremiah said. “I don’t necessarily agree with the conventional wisdom on that, of how high you take a safety. I think this kid’s pretty unique. He’s so tall and long and rangy. The ability to make plays from the deep middle as well as the ability to drop down low and be a physical player, he can erase tight ends. … 

“I would have no issues whatsoever with them taking Kyle Hamilton and saying this is a plug and play guy who’s going to give them something they desperately need, and that’s somebody who can make a play.”

Unlike most years, the quarterback position isn’t hogging the top of the draft boards as most mock drafts have the top four quarterbacks going anywhere between the middle of the first round all the way through the beginning of the second, which means Hamilton has a chance to be this year’s No. 2 overall selection, which would go to the Detroit Lions.