Ravens NFL draft grades 2025: How experts view Malaki Starks pick

11 hours ago 1

Following their 12-5, first-place in the AFC North regular season and eventual playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, the Baltimore Ravens secured the 27th pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

On Thursday, Baltimore decided not to make a trade and instead used the selection on Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks.

Starks was a five-star prospect at Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Georgia and was listed as ESPN's No. 12 recruit in his class before committing to the University of Georgia in his senior year.

Over the last three seasons, Starks played 43 games for the Bulldogs and recorded 197 tackles (six for a loss), 17 passes defensed and six interceptions. He also won a national championship in 2022 and earned All-SEC and All-American honors twice (2023 and 2024).

Baltimore had one of the worst passing defenses in the league last year, allowing 238.3 yards per game (27th). While they re-signed Ar'Darius Washington this offseason, the Ravens can now allow Starks and Kyle Hamilton to be their starting safeties and really take some pressure off of their cornerbacks.

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

After the pick was announced, NFL draft experts rushed to share their feelings on the selection. Here's what they had to say about Baltimore taking Starks.

Ravens draft grades for Malaki Starks

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: A+

"The Ravens couldn't let Starks keep falling, as he gives their versatility secondary another big-time rangy playmaker to support Kyle Hamilton much better than fill-in Ar'Darius Washington. This is a terrific pick and yet another shrewd move by Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh."

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today: 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."

Pete Prisco, CBS: 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."

Gilberto Manzano, Sports Illustrated: 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."