Safety Malaki Starks of Georgia poses after being selected twenty-seventh overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Malaki Starks is looking forward to playing for the Baltimore Ravens.
The star safety from the University of Georgia was selected by the Ravens with the 27th pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The two-time All-American says the pick was a little surprising considering he had met with the team only at the NFL Combine, but he details how excited he is to play for an organization like the Ravens and a “great” head coach in John Harbaugh.
“I love him,” says Starks of Harbaugh in a one-on-one interview with RG. “He’s a great leader, and just his sense of calmness that he brings to the organization — he’s so competitive, he’s so controlled, everything is so controlled. He has a plan for everything. It’s really cool just to see that process of going about things.”
A Perfect Fit in Baltimore
It doesn’t hurt that Starks is joining a first-class organization that is known for being among the elite teams in the NFL every year. The Ravens have been to the playoffs 12 times in Harbaugh’s 17 years in Baltimore. In fact, they’ve only finished with a losing record twice during that time frame.
“It’s been an honor, it really has,” says Starks of being drafted by the Ravens.
“They have a really great organization. All the people that I’ve gotten to meet and build connections with, just how they go about their business. Their brand matches the people, it’s very clean and it’s run in a certain type of way. It’s really cool to get to meet people and have a connection. I’m really excited.”
Starks recently went through his first rookie minicamp with the Ravens and says it was a “fun” experience.
“It was fun,” says Starks. “We got a little taste of what it’s going to be like. We had a really good group of guys that came in. Everybody from the drafted to the signed people to tryouts. We had a really good group of guys. They came out and attacked it every day. We’re all excited to come back.”
Ready to Learn From the League’s Best
One of the biggest things that Starks is looking forward to when it comes to playing for the Ravens is practicing against Lamar Jackson. Although Starks has yet to meet Jackson — he will soon during OTAs in late May — he’s “excited” to play with the two-time MVP.
“I think it’s an awesome opportunity, just to be able to learn from him,” says Starks. “A lot of people think when you play defense, you just learn from the defensive players on your side. But you also learn from offense as well. Just being able to pick his brain and to see how he thinks, his progressions. I’m excited, and it helps that he’s the best quarterback in the league.”
Speaking of offensive players, Starks is looking forward to testing his skills and competing against all of the top stars in the NFL. When asked which wide receiver or tight end he’s looking to match up against the most, Starks says “all of them.”
“All of them if I’m being honest,” says Starks. “The league is filled with great talent, and I’ve been wanting to be here my whole life, so I’m just excited to showcase my skills.”
From College Star to NFL Student
Starks says the biggest adjustment to the NFL will be getting used to the rules. For example, he outlines how you can be a little more physical as a defensive back in college compared to the NFL where it’s an automatic penalty if you touch a player past five yards.
Starks — who was a projected late first-round pick heading into the draft and attended the event in Green Bay — says it was important for him to be selected in the opening round, but at the end of the day, it’s the team that has the “right fit.”
“It’s everybody’s goal to go in the first round,” says Starks. “I think that’s the ultimate goal. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. You go to the team that has the right fit, and whoever picks you gives you an opportunity. That’s where you know, that’s where God is meant for you to be. I was just very grateful to get the call.”
DJ Siddiqi is a sports reporter who focuses on football, basketball and pro wrestling. He has covered some of the biggest sporting events, including the NBA Finals and Wrestlemania and often interviews high-profile athletes on a weekly basis. Siddiqi has interviewed the likes of Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, Tony Hawk and Giannis Antetokounmpo. His previous experience includes working as a lead NBA writer at CBS Sports and 247 Sports in addition to working as a beat reporter covering the NFL and the Denver Broncos at Bleacher Report. Follow Siddiqi for exclusive one-on-one interviews and analysis on key topics in sports
