Way-too-early predictions for Malaki Starks' rookie season with the Ravens
There aren't many sure things in the NFL. There are a few. We know fan support for the Baltimore Ravens will never die. We know this team won't leave in the middle of the night like the Colts once did. It's certain that, as long as Lamar Jackson lines up under center (or in the shotgun formation), this team has a shot at beating anyone.
Other talking points are debatable. Can Derrick Henry run for 2,000 yards in this offense? He'll certainly have an opportunity to do so. He's already a member of the 2k Club, but recently, conversations about all things Ravens have brought up one of the young guys.
Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes on rookie Malaki Starks. This may sound premature, but he's one of those 'sure things'.
Bold predictions for Malaki Starks' first season (that are probably way too early).
Most have kept up with his journey and how he's been doing since his arrival. As a Freshman All-American in 2022, he helped usher the Georgia Bulldogs to a College Football Playoff National Championship win.
He was a Consensus All-American in 2023 and a First-Team All-American a year later. That 2024 season doubled as his final run at the NCAA level, one he punctuated with his second consecutive First-Team All-SEC mention.
The Ravens made him the 2025 NFL Draft's 27th selection in Round 1. The hope was that his phenomenal resume would translate. There's no reason to think it won't.
Stories of his work ethic and his blooming relationship with his position coach, Chuck Pagano, have leaked. That has only stoked the flames of a blaze building around him. Now comes the question. What might be the reasonable expectations for his first season in black, metallic gold, and purple? Well, it's wonderful that you would ask that question!
4-5 interceptions and a sack in his first Ravens season
Malaki Starks never topped three interceptions during his career at Georgia, but he also never played a 17-game regular season. Fear not, there isn't any danger of him hitting the 'rookie wall'. The opposite will happen. The extra games will allow him to showcase his brilliance to a larger audience.
Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey are elite playmakers in their own right. Opposing quarterbacks would like to avoid throwing in any of these guys' direction, but they'll have to test them at some point. Chances are they go after the rookie.
Starks will be up to the challenge. Extra opportunities and elite talent around him are key ingredients for a rookie season full of highlights, one that includes four to five interceptions and a sack.
Malaki Starks finishes third in tackles (with just under 100 total)
Expect the rookie to roam around the formation, but expect Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton to lead this team in tackles. Starks finishes third. He also finishes third in solo stops, and during a 17-game season, 90-95 takedowns seems like a fair number.
The PFWA All-Rookie Team
This one feels like destiny. Each season, the Pro Football Writers Association releases its All-Rookie Team. This season, that team will add Malaki Starks' name to that list. 'Sure things' remember? This is another one.
Starks ends his first season as a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist
After accomplishing all of this and enjoying an outstanding rookie campaign, Starks will, no doubt, have a date with the NFL Honors on his agenda in February. Hopefully, the Ravens won't be attending because they're playing in Super Bowl 60, but you get the idea. Baltimore's rookie safety already feels like a Defensive Rookie of the Year nominee.
Sadly, it feels as though a snub is coming. It just feels like this award will go to a pass rusher, but that shouldn't diminish any of the excitement built during Malaki's first season. Buckle up. There are sure to be fireworks.
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