Who Is Baltimore Ravens' Most Underrated Playmaker?

The Baltimore Ravens made an under-the-radar addition last offseason when they signed safety Will Hill. The New York Giants had cut him that offseason after he was suspended for the first six games of 2014 for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, according to the New York Post's Bart Hubbuch. 

It was the third time the league had suspended Hill in his three-year career. It looked as though his career might be over, but Baltimore gave him a shot by signing him to a one-year deal.

After serving his suspension, Hill returned and slowly acclimated to the Ravens defense. He quickly went from a part-time role player to a full-time starter by Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

From there, he ended up starting 10 games and finished the year with a 13.6 grade by Pro Football Focus. That's an outstanding mark that shows just how well he played in Baltimore's defense. 

This offseason Hill became a restricted free agent, but he eventually signed his $1.542 million tender to stay with Baltimore through the 2015 season, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. 

That ensured the Ravens will keep him for at least one more year. That's good news for their secondary, which needs more playmakers like Hill. 

With a full year in Baltimore's defense under his belt, he should make a big jump in his performance this year. We saw flashes of a great playmaker last year. 

Hill's biggest play came in Week 12 on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints. He made a game-changing pick-six in the third quarter that gave Baltimore a 24-17 lead.  

On the play, he is lined up as the safety nearest Jimmy Graham, and judging by how the play progresses, he is in man coverage. 

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

As Graham comes off the line, he runs a short dig route that should be an easy play for Drew Brees. 

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

However, Hill sees the play developing. He comes down and does a good job of staying right on Graham's hip. 

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

As the play progresses, Hill is also reading the eyes of Brees and breaks on the ball when it comes out of the quarterback's hand.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

After making the grab, Hill has nothing but daylight in front of him as he takes it to the end zone to give Baltimore a lead it would not relinquish. 

This was the biggest play Hill made in his first year with the Ravens. Now, he enters Year 2 in Baltimore with no suspension to worry about and having learned the defense. 

Not only should his impact be bigger this year, but Hill should also win one of the two starting safety spots. He finished the year as the starting free safety, but Kendrick Lewis filled the same position as a full-time starter last year with the Houston Texans. 

Baltimore signed Lewis in free agency this offseason. For now, it looks like the team wants him to start at free safety and Hill to move to strong safety. 

Regardless of where he plays, Hill is the kind of playmaking safety Baltimore needs protecting the back end of the secondary while also providing run support when needed. 

Oh, and Hill will be entering just his fourth season in the NFL this year. Injuries and suspensions have led to his missing 14 games in his career, nearly the equivalent of a full season. 

For all of the promise he's shown, Hill can become a special player in Baltimore if he keeps his head on straight. Watch out for him in 2015.