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, which gave up just 80.1 yards per game.
Starks Has Big Expectations for Himself
When asked on ESPN’s SportsCenter which quarterback he’s looking forward to picking off the most, Starks playfully said, “I want to get Josh Allen.”
While the statement is cheeky, Starks is tempting fate.
The Ravens crushed the Bills in the 2024 regular season, 35-10, but the Bills bounced them in the AFC Divisional Round, 27-25. Even though they outgained the Bills in total yards (416-273) and didn’t punt at all, the Ravens turned the ball over three times, including a fumble and an interception by Lamar Jackson.
The Bills also bounced the Ravens in the 2021 AFC Divisional Round by a 17-3 score. Jackson threw a momentum-changing interception before leaving the game with a concussion.
The Ravens went through significant changes on defense last offseason. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald became the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and was replaced by Zach Orr. He is a former Ravens linebacker and has been the team’s linebackers coach since 2022.
Former Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees (2012-17) was also brought on to be a senior adviser to Orr, and former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano (2012-17) arrived to coach the defensive backs.
They also invested heavily in defense in the draft. In addition to Starks, the Ravens selected EDGE Mike Green 59th overall out of Marshall. He 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.
Now, he has to make good on his goal to pick off the reigning MVP.