The Baltimore Ravens didn’t need to move a muscle on Thursday night to come away with one of the best players in the draft. Georgia safety Malaki Starks, a projected top-15 pick on most boards, slid to No. 27—right into Eric DeCosta’s lap. And just like that, the league might now have a new best secondary.
It’s the kind of pick the Ravens make look routine. Starks checks every box: elite production, clean character, and a natural fit in Baltimore’s defensive system. He’s a high-IQ safety with ball skills, range, and the confidence to step out onto an NFL field on Day 1.
That confidence showed immediately. When asked about the moment, Starks didn’t give a rehearsed cliché. He gave a promise.
“It’s been a long week, and just being able to kind of meet him [Roger Goodell] and just kind of watch him since I was a kid and be up there with him,” Starks told NFL Network's Jamie Erdahl. “I’ve been waiting for a long time back there and I’m ready to go to work.”
"I'm ready to go to work!!"
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 25, 2025
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Malaki Starks eager to make impact after being drafted by Baltimore Ravens
In his first interview with Erdahl, Starks doubled down with an emphatic, “I’m ready to get to work.” It's so clear this guy was meant to play for the Ravens. It's the "roll up your sleeves" attitude that the city embodies. Baltimore values players who don’t see being drafted as the finish line. Starks made it clear he sees it as the starting point.
DeCosta called Starks “a guy who passed every single test” throughout the pre-draft process, and it’s easy to see why. He racked up 197 tackles and six interceptions during his time in Athens and was named a First-Team All-American in 2023. More importantly, he’s a seamless complement to Kyle Hamilton.
Hamilton thrives near the line of scrimmage. Starks plays clean and fast over the top. Together, they form what might already be the most complete safety tandem in the NFL. Baltimore played the draft perfectly. They played the long game and their top option was still available. Now, they’ve got a game-ready dude who just wants to get to work.
That’s Ravens football. And Starks is already speaking the language.