The NFL Draft is always unpredictable, but nobody was expecting Georgia safety Malaki Starks to be one of the biggest presumed fallers in 2025. A year ago, he was viewed as a top-ten lock, and even heading into this offseason, he was still widely considered the best safety in the class.
Yet, as we inch closer to draft night, Starks has inexplicably slipped down boards, with some mock drafts pushing him into the late first round.
If that slide continues and he’s still on the board when the Baltimore Ravens pick at No. 27, general manager Eric DeCosta shouldn’t hesitate to turn in the card. The Ravens have always been a best-player-available team, and this would be the perfect example of how that strategy leads to long-term success.
Not only is Starks the most talented safety in this class, but his skill set fits perfectly with Baltimore’s current defensive core. Pairing him with Kyle Hamilton and Nate Wiggins would instantly give the Ravens one of the most dominant young secondaries in the NFL.
Ravens should be there to catch Malaki Starks if he falls on draft night
Starks hasn’t suddenly lost his talent. The concerns surrounding his draft stock mostly stem from his statistical decline in 2024, where he had career lows in interceptions (1) and pass breakups (2). He also allowed more explosive plays in coverage than in previous years, giving up 453 receiving yards—more than double what he allowed in 2023.
But the context here is crucial. Starks wasn’t playing a traditional safety role at Georgia last season. Instead, he was used heavily in the slot, often in press-man coverage against wide receivers—a role that naturally put him in more difficult, high-exposure situations.
Even though his coverage stats took a hit, the fact he was able to hold his own in such an aggressive scheme actually speaks to his versatility.
Baltimore doesn’t need Starks to play the role he had at Georgia. For the Ravens, he’d be able to return to his natural safety position, where he can use his elite athleticism, range, and ball skills to make plays all over the field. This is a secondary that gave up 58 plays of 20 or more yards through the air, so it’s not like defensive back isn’t a glaring roster hole. That’s way too many big plays.
Kyle Hamilton thrives in a hybrid role, and pairing him with Starks would give Baltimore arguably the most dynamic young safety duo in the league. Add in first-round corner Nate Wiggins, and suddenly, the Ravens have a secondary built for the next five-plus years.
At the end of the day, drafting for value always beats drafting for need. And in this case, Starks is both. If the Ravens are lucky enough to have him fall into their laps at No. 27, there shouldn’t be a second of hesitation. This could be viewed as the steal of the draft—and a potential nightmare for the rest of the NFL.