Ravens Get A+ Grades for Malaki Starks Pick
After the Ravens selected safety Malaki Starks with the 27th pick in the first round last night, General Manager Eric DeCosta admitted that it had made him uncomfortable that there was so much pre-draft buzz around the league about the team's interest in the Georgia star.
DeCosta added that if Starks had been off the board, he was confident that there would be other players available that he liked.
"In the end, it just fell for us," DeCosta said.
Of course it did. As has happened often, the Ravens were able to sit back and land a player they coveted.
The pick received universal praise and high grades from pundits:
Pro Football Focus: "Grade: Elite. The Ravens let the board fall to them and take the best available player on the PFF Big Board. He has positional versatility that allows Kyle Hamilton to be a movable chess piece. Starks' 85.6 run-defense grade was one of the best in the draft class, while his 8.1% missed tackle rate was one of the lowest in the class. Starks brings high-level football intelligence and great anticipation to make plays on the ball in coverage."
The Ringer’s Danny Kelly: "Grade: A+. This is a classic Ravens pick. Baltimore scoops up a super-versatile, high-character playmaker in Starks, who fell this far primarily due to questions about his speed and overall athleticism. The former Bulldogs stalwart pairs perfectly with Kyle Hamilton, and Starks' ability to line up deep, in the slot, and in the box will give Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr the flexibility to move his playmakers around the formation."
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer: "Grade: A+. The Ravens couldn't let Starks keep falling, as he gives their versatile secondary another big-time rangy playmaker to support Kyle Hamilton. … This is a terrific pick and yet another shrewd move by Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh."
SB Nation’s Joseph Acosta: "Grade: A+. The Ravens are really good at this. Starks was one of the best players in the draft class, a versatile player who could run at nickel or deep safety. He allows the Ravens to play Kyle Hamilton closer to the line, and Starks can be impactful making plays on the ball downfield."
Yahoo! Sports’ Charles McDonald: "Grade: A+. Classic Ravens draft pick. A falling player that was highly sought after all season up until the draft. Malaki Starks and Kyle Hamilton will be an incredible duo right off the bat that will keep the Ravens playing elite defense for the near future."
Pro Football Network: "Grade: A+. The Baltimore Ravens played the board and got one of the best value deals in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Malaki Starks was a top-10 prospect on my board, and he's a perfect fit for what the Ravens need on the back end of their defense."
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: "Grade: A. We've seen this movie before: Teams pass on a talented nickelback/safety, and the Ravens pounce. They made a similar move when taking Kyle Hamilton three years ago after he slipped in the draft. Starks played all over the field at Georgia, which might have caused some teams to wonder where he would fit best in their defense. Of course, teams also passed on Brian Branch and Cooper DeJean for similar reasons in previous years, and their careers are off to great starts. Starks' versatility is a strength, not a weakness, as he finds and makes plays on the football."
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski: "Grade: A. The Baltimore Ravens standing pat and landing an elite talent is completely on brand. The B/R NFL Scouting Department had Georgia safety Malaki Starks as the No. 4 overall prospect in this year's draft. Positional value pushes him down to a degree, and he didn't run quite as well as hoped prior to the draft, but he's silky smooth working the backline and in coverage. … The two-time first-team All-American is an elite talent and playmaker along the back end. Three years of high-end performance in the nation's toughest conference, including starting as a true freshman, shows he's more than deserving of a high draft grade and ready to take on the NFL. … The addition of Starks will allow Baltimore to use Hamilton all over the field because he thrives when working against the pass. The fact he was available with the 27th overall pick is nothing short of stealing."
USA Today’s Ayrton Ostly: "Grade: A. The Ravens potentially get another first-round steal in the three-year starter for Georgia. Starks offers great versatility in coverage with the football IQ and commitment to run defense that will fit perfectly in the AFC North. Baltimore needed help in the secondary and grabbed the best defensive back on the board here."
For The Win’s Christian D’Andrea: "Grade: A. Welp, they did it again. The Ravens waited patiently as an 'extremely' Ravens player fell into their laps. Starks is a wonderful addition to the Baltimore lineup. He can man a safety role next to Kyle Hamilton. He can slide out to the slot to get the jump on shiftier receivers. He can fill in along the sideline if needed. Just having him in the lineup opens a new chapter in the playbook for coordinator Zach Orr. Rather than roll the dice on a less-proven pass rusher like Mike Green, the Ravens opted for a proven blue-chip player who adjusts well to coaching and does whatever his team needs. And so, once again, the Baltimore defense will be a highway of metal spikes and quicksand once more."
The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman: "Grade: B. Starks was a driving force on a Georgia defense that faced the nation's most difficult schedule; he 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."
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco: "Grade: B. He's a good player with a lot of range who will be a nice add on the back end of their defense. But why not an edge player? Then again, this is a tough team to argue about when it comes to drafting safeties."
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano: "Grade: B. Starks was a productive do-it-all defensive back for the Bulldogs. His versatile skill set allowed him to play at free safety and nickel corner. He's a savvy playmaker who could also earn snaps as a special teams ace. A three-year starter, Starks had a team-high 77 tackles with one interception last season."
USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: "Grade: B. In my penultimate mock draft, I wrote Starks 'looks like a Raven, plays like a Raven, feels like a Raven.' Now, he is a Raven – and I regret not sticking with my selection. Eric DeCosta famously doesn't place positional considerations ahead of overall value, but he stressed this offseason how much adding another safety alongside Kyle Hamilton would do for the defense. If Starks can avoid short-circuiting in coverage the way he occasionally did in his final campaign with Georgia, he should help put the secondary in a more secure place."
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley: "This is perhaps the best defensive fit of the first round. It was another year where a highly productive and high-character prospect from a major program fell to the Ravens near the bottom of the first round."
NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks: "The Ravens love football players and get one in Starks who has position versatility in the secondary. Baltimore's defense will be a nightmare operating pre-snap disguises with Starks and Kyle Hamilton. The Georgia standout is a tough, high-level player who jumps off the tape."
ESPN’s Jordan Reid: "The Ravens stayed true to their historic ways, taking one of the best players on the board in safety Malaki Starks. Pairing him with Kyle Hamilton provides them with even more versatility in the secondary. Starks can play in the slot, but he projects best as a free safety. Regardless, he is an upgrade from Marcus Williams, who was released this offseason."
The Baltimore Sun’s C.J. Doon: "Never in doubt, right? Starks was the most common pick among the most accurate mock drafters, and he ends up falling in the Ravens' laps. His versatility will help shore up a secondary that ranked as one of the worst in the league last year, even after a late-season turnaround. Baltimore loves using three-safety looks, so Starks, All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and breakout star Ar'Darius Washington can all be on the field together. This gives Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr and new Senior Secondary Coach Chuck Pagano plenty of options to disguise coverages and confuse quarterbacks. Not to mention, he was praised for his leadership at Georgia and his ability to get his teammates lined up properly. Sounds like a perfect fit to fix a sometimes leaky defense."
Baltimore Beatdown’s Frank Platko: "Starks is a no-brainer selection and home run pick for the Ravens. As a highly-ranked prospect from a top-tier program, Starks falling to No. 27 is a godsend for the Ravens. He fills an immediate need as an all-around safety who will add versatility to the secondary. He pairs perfectly alongside Kyle Hamilton, who will now once again be able to move around in more spots on defense. Starks is a short-term boost and long-term insurance given Ar'Darius Washington's uncertain status beyond 2025."
Russell Street Report’s Tony Lombardi: "Chuck Pagano must be smiling from ear to ear. This pick is like a double dip. It frees up Kyle Hamilton to play the Swiss Army knife role, lining up across the defensive front, creating confusion. Starks is an excellent and willing tackler and that alone is a huge upgrade over Marcus Williams. He's a smart player with leadership traits and is rangy in coverage. With Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, newly acquired Chidobe Awuzie, promising T.J. Tampa, Hamilton and now Starks, it allows Zach Orr to unleash hell up front with simulated pressures."
Day 2 Mock Drafts Have Ravens Adding More Defenders
Just because the first round is over doesn't mean mock drafts are.
A few pundits made their predictions for Day 2. They all had the Ravens loading up on defense.
ESPN’s Matt Miller has the Ravens selecting East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. in the second round at No. 59 overall.
"The Ravens can double down in the secondary and grab a 6-foot-3 cornerback who has first-round tape but fell due to an ACL injury in September," Miller wrote. "Revel has speed, length and ball skills but didn't get to prove himself against elite competition – which is likely why he's on the board here."
Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Flick mocked Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander to Baltimore in Round 2.
"Alexander is big, long and powerful, which translates well to the physical nature of the AFC North," Flick wrote.
Flick has the Ravens landing an edge rusher in the third round (No. 91 overall) in Louisville's Ashton Gillotte.
USA Today’s Ostly has the Ravens taking UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo in the second round and Nebraska defensive tackle Ty Robninson in the third.
"Baltimore got great value in Round 1 by picking Malaki Starks and continues to invest in defense in Round 2," Ostly wrote. "Oladejo follows a familiar format to what Baltimore's done at the position for years. He's inexperienced at edge but offers a great frame and athleticism to grow into a good starter."
