Baltimore Ravens sign Malaki Starks to four-year, $16.6 million rookie contract

The Baltimore Ravens announced they have signed safety Malaki Starks to a four-year rookie contract. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the former Georgia Bulldogs star will receive $16.6 million with an $8.7 million signing bonus.

The Ravens selected Starks at No. 27 overall in this year’s NFL Draft. Since he’s a first-round pick, Starks has a fifth-year option on his contract. Malaki Starks is expected to make an immediate impact on the Ravens’ defense. And with Ar’Darius Washington tearing his Achilles earlier this month, Starks will likely see a lot of snaps at the safety position.

“I think [Starks] is doing a good job. I don’t think he’s really flashed yet, because he’s just trying to be in the right spot right now and make the right call,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday, per the team’s official website. “The safeties have a lot of communication, but I haven’t seen him make a mistake yet with the communication. He looks really good as an athlete, and with Ar’Darius’ situation, it’s a lot on his plate right now, so he’s going to have to step up. But it’s why we drafted him in the first round.”

Malaki Starks is ready to be a’sponge’

Starks joined the Ravens after a stellar career at Georgia. He was named a Freshman All-American in 2022 after recording 68 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and seven passes defended. In 2023, Starks was named to the Associated Press All-America First Team after tallying 52 tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defended. Last year, Starks was selected to the Associated Press All-America Secon Team after posting a team-leading 77 tackles, four tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one pick. He also helped the Bulldogs win the national title in 2022.

“I just want to be a sponge,” Starks said. “They know so much football, and watching tape, you see it. They just move so fluidly. Like I had talked about earlier, they’re on a different level of [having] knowledge of football, and I want to get there.”