The Baltimore Ravens front office and fan base have reason to be excited about Malaki Starks. The Georgia product arrived with high expectations— versatile, physical, and full of potential to be the next great hybrid safety threat in Baltimore’s defense.
But as the 2025 season looms, the rookie faces a steeper learning curve than many might assume. The fantasy of a breakout season has collided with the realities of the NFL speed, game planning against him, and the pressure of consistency.
Malaki Starks hit by harsh reality check
Early glimpses, but struggles evident
Starks earned praise early on for his multidimensional skill set— capable in coverage, willing in run support, able to blitz, and comfortable in multiple alignments. Some analysts have even drawn comparisons to Ravens postseason icons, suggesting Starks could emulate the great talents and should help this team out.
Yet those early flashes haven’t translated into consistent performance. Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades show Starks struggling to find his footing: he holds an overall grade of 56.2, ranking 104th out of 134 safeties. His run defense grade is 73.7, which is solid at 32nd out of 134, but his coverage grade is just 50.3, placing him 109th out of 134 safeties. These numbers highlight a rookie still adjusting to the speed, complexity, and discipline required at the NFL level.
Surrounded by talent — but carrying a load
One mitigating factor for Starks is that he won’t operate alone. He has Kyle Hamilton next to him, a dynamic All-Pro who can cover a lot of ground and take pressure off Starks in high-leverage spots.
Even with Hamilton’s presence, teams have started to go after Starks due to his inexperience and his weakness in pass coverage. The Ravens' defensive staff needs to lean on him more in roles like blitzing, box presence, and secondary run support.
If 2025 gives Starks one clear lesson, it’s that consistency is king in the NFL. A few splash plays or highlight stops won’t earn grace after repeated mistakes or missed assignments. Opponents have tested him week in and week out through weeks of film, tendencies, and hesitation. The first four starts — he has shown he’s able to play the run game, play in the box, and come up and make tackles in the run game, but he is still struggling to defend the pass, especially with a defense that can not get to the quarterback.
In many respects, the “harsh reality check” is part of being a rookie in the NFL, especially as a rookie safety. With an overall PFF grade near the bottom third, the coverage struggles glaringly, and the Ravens are currently struggling on defense, Malaki Starks will quickly learn that promise doesn’t always equal production in the NFL— but the lessons he learns now could define his career to start.