2025 NFL Draft: Baltimore picks Malaki Starks No. 27 overall
The next phase of Malaki Starks‘ football career is officially underway. The Georgia safety was picked by the Baltimore Ravens at No. 27 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday. He’s the third Bulldog selected in the first round.
Starks forewent his final year of eligibility at Georgia to enter the draft. He wrapped up his career on a streak of 42 straight starts. The only game he didn’t start while in a Bulldog uniform was the 2022 season opener against Oregon. Starks had his first career interception in that game.
That 2022 season saw Starks play rack up 68 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and seven pass breakups. He also had a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned 42 yards. Georgia went 15-0 and pounded TCU 65-7 in the National Championship game.
His second season at Georgia was arguably his best. He had 52 total tackles, a career-high three interceptions, and broke up seven passes as the Bulldogs went 14-1 and drilled Florida State in the Orange Bowl.
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Starks wore multiple hats during his junior season, playing both safety and STAR at different points in the season. He had a career-high 77 total tackles and four stops for loss while picking off one pass and breaking up three more. Starks also had four punt returns for 39 yards.
Georgia landed Starks in the 2022 class. He was a five-star prospect per the On3 Industry ranking, a weighted average that includes all four websites that publish recruiting rankings. He was the nation’s No. 10 prospect and No. 1 safety. He was the No. 3 player in the Peach State. Kirby Smart didn’t have to go far to get him as Starks played his high school ball at Jefferson, less than 40 minutes from the Georgia campus.
“Man, what a great kid. I talk to my kids a lot about Malaki. Malaki is a guy you want your son to be like…,” Georgia safeties coach Travaris Robinson said of Starks during the 2024 preseason. “… He’s straining and doing all the things, but it’s the same things he does on the field. He’s holding people accountable, and I think that’s one of his greatest traits. Yes, he’s a good football player. Yes, he’s a great ball hawk, all that kind of stuff. But at the end of the day, Malaki holds people accountable. He holds himself accountable, and that’s why he’s a great player.”
