Ravens draft safety Malaki Starks: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

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The Baltimore Ravens have added to their secondary by selecting Georgia safety Malaki Starks with the No. 23 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.

In three seasons with the Bulldogs, Starks has been a difference maker in the secondary and one of the team’s defensive leaders. He recorded 197 tackles and six interceptions and was part of the 2022 national championship team. Starks was a do-everything safety — lining in the post, split-field, box, slot and “star” nickel position — for head coach Kirby Smart.

In 2024, Starks led the team in tackles (77) and was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press. That came on the heels of earning consensus first-team All-American honors in 2023, when he recorded three interceptions. In both seasons, he was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (which goes to the top defensive back in the country), a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award (awarded to the top defensive player in the country) and a first-team AP All-SEC selection.

Starks was the second-rated safety — behind South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori — on The Athletic draft expert Dane Brugler’s big board.

‘The Beast’ breakdown

Starks ranked No. 19 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:

“With his length, athleticism and recognition skills, Starks is a strong space defender and plays confidently in all aspects of coverage and run support. Though there are plenty of examples of his range and playmaking skills, he doesn’t consistently position himself to be disruptive in man-to-man situations — that issue led to several big plays allowed in 2024. Overall, Starks doesn’t have Teflon tape, especially in man coverage, but his athletic profile, diagnose skills and intangibles will make him an immediate starter and special-teamer in the NFL. His versatile skill set can give a defensive coordinator options, although he is best suited for a free safety role.”

Coaching intel

What an anonymous coach had to say about Starks in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:

“He’s super smooth. He covers a lot of ground. He is a very savvy player. Really good open-field tackler. Georgia wasn’t that good in the back end (in 2024). I think their issues would’ve been a lot more glaring if he wasn’t back there.”

Malaki Starks, my goodness

pic.twitter.com/8vPCJm8DlA

— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 31, 2024

Scott Dochterman grades the pick

Malaki Starks (6-0 7/8, 197) was a driving force on Georgia’s defense throughout the nation’s most difficult schedule, and Starks kept the defense composed on its way to the SEC championship. In the process, Starks had a team-high 77 tackles, including four for loss, plus an interception and three pass breakups. He started 42 games over three seasons and twice was a first-team All-American. He fits nicely in Baltimore’s secondary alongside free safety Kyle Hamilton and nickel Marlon Humphrey, reinforcing a need with the No. 19 player in the draft, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Perhaps corner was a more important spot, but Starks is an elite player.

Grade: B

How he fits

The Ravens talk all the time about wanting a position-less defense; Starks helps toward that goal. With his size, length and athleticism, Starks can line up pretty much anywhere. He’s at his best as a free safety, but he can play deep safety, move into the box, or man the slot. He has good ball skills and he’s solid in run support, too. He’ll join Kyle Hamilton, a two-time All-Pro, in giving Baltimore two talented and versatile safeties.

Depth-chart impact

In the past, the Ravens have thrived in three-safety looks. The struggles of veteran safeties Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson last season made that difficult. However, Baltimore re-signed restricted free agent Ar’Darius Washington, who had a breakout 2024 season, and now they’ve added one of the best safeties in the draft. Whether he’s an every-down starter from the jump or he begins as the frequently-used No. 3 safety, Starks will have a significant role as a rookie. The Ravens have shown that they aren’t afraid to flood the field with defensive backs and keep quarterbacks guessing as to where they’ll line up. Starks figures to have a big special teams role as a rookie, too.

They also could have picked …

The board fell nicely for the Ravens; when they were on the clock, they had a number of choices. Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons, Marshall edge rusher Mike Green, Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiuraku, Alabama inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson were all available. So was South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori, who some evaluators had as the best safety in the draft (the Ravens, obviously, disagreed).

Fast evaluation

The Ravens are not afraid to target a non-premium position in the first round, and this is the latest example. With his instincts, physicality and play-making ability, Starks immediately makes the Ravens’ defense faster and more athletic, and gives defensive coordinator Zach Orr another chess piece. This figures to be a defensive-heavy draft for the Ravens and general manager Eric DeCosta got it started with a player who can contribute on multiple levels.

(Photo: Jeffrey Vest / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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