The Baltimore Ravens went into the 2025 NFL Draft needing help in the secondary. So, when their pick came up at No. 27 overall, they snapped up Georgia safety Malaki Starks. He’s expected to step right in and solidify a Baltimore pass defense that ranked 31st in the league, giving up 252.9 passing yards per game.
Starks can play deep safety, slot corner, and box safety. The hope is that he and fellow safety Kyle Hamilton will stabilize a pass defense that can complement the Ravens’ run defense, and the rookie is excited to do it for the Ravens’ “really great organization”.
Starks Raves About Ravens’ “Really Great Organization”
Starks’ 2024 campaign wasn’t quite as prolific as his two prior seasons, and his NFL Combine testing performance wasn’t elite, except for the 4.50s 40-yard dash. Nonetheless, he was still the No. 1-ranked safety of the draft and saw his name get called 27th overall by the Ravens.
Starks was emotional about his selection and grabbed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a tight hug and didn’t leave him for 22 seconds. He also appeared to be in tears while hugging Goodell, and after attending the Ravens’ rookie minicamp, he isn’t stopping to rave about how great the organization is.
“It’s been an honor, it really has,” Starks told RG of being drafted by the Ravens. “They have a really great organization. All the people that I’ve gotten to meet and build connections with, just how they go about their business. Their brand matches the people, it’s very clean, and it’s run in a certain type of way. It’s really cool to get to meet people and have a connection. I’m really excited.”
There’s no doubt that the Ravens are a great organization as well as a team, and have invested in defense in the draft. In addition to Starks, the Ravens selected EDGE Mike Green 59th overall out of Marshall, who led the FBS with 17 sacks in 2024.
The Ravens also selected two corners in the sixth round, Bihal Kone from Western Michigan and Robert Longerbeam from Rutgers.
Baltimore also signed corner Chidobe Awuzie in free agency to a one-year, $1.25 million contract after the Tennessee Titans released him. He had signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Titans in 2024 but missed eight games with a groin injury and recorded only one interception. If he returns to his pre-injury form, he’s a steal for the Ravens.
Starks is considered an intelligent player. The Ravens GM has noted in the past that he did very well in combine interviews and was able to break down game film on the same level as some coaches.