When it comes to draft night, Baltimore Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta knows how to keep his team out of trouble. Can’t say the same for a few other front offices around the league.
While the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to sit on their hands hoping Aaron Rodgers bails them out of quarterback purgatory, the Ravens did what they always do on draft night—they made the right pick. With the No. 27 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Baltimore landed Georgia safety Malaki Starks, a no-brainer addition to one of the league’s most stacked defenses.
And just like that, the AFC North became even more hostile for any quarterback considering a move.
The Ravens didn’t have to trade up. They didn’t overthink it. Starks was there, and they made the smart, terrifying choice for everyone else. What an absolute steal. This kid has top-10 potential.
Zach Orr’s defense just got a whole lot scarier
Starks might be the most complete safety in this class. He’s a cerebral, twitchy, positionally versatile defender who’s been a tone-setter in Georgia’s defense since Day 1. He’s got six interceptions, nearly 200 tackles, and a First-Team All-American selection to show for it.
What makes this pick so impactful is the fit next to Kyle Hamilton. Starks is a true free safety who can play over the top, range sideline to sideline, and erase mistakes. That frees up Hamilton to be his most disruptive self—lining up in the box, blitzing off the edge, and destroying play concepts before they get going.
With Zach Orr calling the shots as defensive coordinator and Chuck Pagano back in the building as the Senior Defensive Backs Coach, the Ravens just gave them the best safety duo in the NFL. Full stop.
So if Aaron Rodgers still has his eyes set on Pittsburgh, he might want to think twice. He’d be walking into a division that features Hamilton, Starks, Marlon Humphrey, and Nate Wiggins... and those are just the DBs.
For the Ravens, this is another home run. For the rest of the AFC North—especially the team still waiting on Rodgers’ decision—it’s a warning shot. Good luck throwing deep. Baltimore just closed the airspace.