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Year one for Malaki Starks with the Baltimore Ravens must have felt like a bit of a culture shock in some ways. Never has football carried so much adversity or so many losses, at least not recently. A proud Jefferson graduate in the great state of Georgia, he earned a five-star ranking as part of the NCAA's 2022 football class. ESPN ranked him as the nation's 12th-best recruit.
He attended UGA, where he played for the mighty Georgia Bulldogs. He was a Freshman All-American (2022). He was part of a College Football Playoff National Championship-winning team that season.
One year later, he was named a Consensus All-American. He also earned the first of two consecutive First-Team All-SEC mentions, and in 2024, he capped his collegiate career by being named a First-team All-American.
Baltimore drafted him 27th overall, during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Year one produced 84 tackles, four pass breakups, and two interceptions. Now comes the question. What's to be expected of the young safety in year two?
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta spoke with the media before the action at the NFL Combine gets underway. He was very complimentary of Tyler Linderbaum. The Ravens have offered him a "market setting" deal, by the way. Lamar Jackson and his impending extension were mentioned, as was the brilliance of **** Hamilton.
While answering one of his final two questions, however, he tipped his cap to his now-second-year safety. While discussing the 'need vs. team need' approach to roster building, he reaffirmed the organization's faith in the Starks selection.
That says it all, but it also sets a bar.
Praise from general manager Eric DeCosta isn't something that is handed out casually, especially when it comes with comparisons to a foundational piece like Kyle Hamilton. DeCosta's decision to lump Starks into the same conversation as one of the league's premier defensive playmakers is more than a compliment. It's confirmation that Baltimore believes it found another cornerstone for the secondary.
Year two is where expectations shift. The rookie learning curve is gone. The speed of the game isn't new anymore, and if DeCosta is right about "knocking that pick out of the park," the Ravens may already have their next long-term star patrolling the backend of its defense.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Malaki Starks earns high praise from Ravens GM Eric DeCosta
Continue reading...
He attended UGA, where he played for the mighty Georgia Bulldogs. He was a Freshman All-American (2022). He was part of a College Football Playoff National Championship-winning team that season.
One year later, he was named a Consensus All-American. He also earned the first of two consecutive First-Team All-SEC mentions, and in 2024, he capped his collegiate career by being named a First-team All-American.
Baltimore drafted him 27th overall, during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Year one produced 84 tackles, four pass breakups, and two interceptions. Now comes the question. What's to be expected of the young safety in year two?
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta gives Malaki Starks a massive compliment.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta spoke with the media before the action at the NFL Combine gets underway. He was very complimentary of Tyler Linderbaum. The Ravens have offered him a "market setting" deal, by the way. Lamar Jackson and his impending extension were mentioned, as was the brilliance of **** Hamilton.
While answering one of his final two questions, however, he tipped his cap to his now-second-year safety. While discussing the 'need vs. team need' approach to roster building, he reaffirmed the organization's faith in the Starks selection.
That says it all, but it also sets a bar.
Praise from general manager Eric DeCosta isn't something that is handed out casually, especially when it comes with comparisons to a foundational piece like Kyle Hamilton. DeCosta's decision to lump Starks into the same conversation as one of the league's premier defensive playmakers is more than a compliment. It's confirmation that Baltimore believes it found another cornerstone for the secondary.
Year two is where expectations shift. The rookie learning curve is gone. The speed of the game isn't new anymore, and if DeCosta is right about "knocking that pick out of the park," the Ravens may already have their next long-term star patrolling the backend of its defense.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Malaki Starks earns high praise from Ravens GM Eric DeCosta
Continue reading...
