Ravens rookie is built to fix Baltimore’s biggest 2024 problem

The Baltimore Ravens didn’t spend the offseason generating newsworthy stories, but they didn’t stand still either. Between re-signing key pieces and filling gaps in free agency, the front office methodically addressed the roster’s biggest needs. The goal wasn’t to overhaul the roster—they didn't have to. It was to round out the rest of the roster with reliable talent.

And in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Baltimore may have found the exact kind of playmaker its defense lacked last fall.

Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report recently named Georgia safety Malaki Starks the Ravens’ most dangerous offseason addition. It’s not hard to see why. The Ravens needed someone who could anchor the back end of the defense and allow Kyle Hamilton to play closer to the line of scrimmage again. Starks brings that and more, and his presence could unlock Baltimore’s secondary in a way it hasn’t done so in years.

The fit is already turning heads. The Ravens knew exactly what they were missing on defense when they made their first-round pick. They needed someone who could bring some energy to the back end, create turnovers, and help the rest of the secondary finally settle into place. “The Baltimore Ravens saw a problem its defense had last season and immediately fixed it with their first-round selection of Georgia safety Malaki Starks,” Sobleski wrote.

Malaki Starks could be the missing piece in Ravens’ defensive rebuild

Baltimore’s defense was effective in 2024, but that didn’t stop teams from finding soft spots in the secondary. The unit allowed the second-most passing yards and struggled to generate turnovers at the rate fans were used to.

One of the clearest signs of that regression came from the safety rotation. Hamilton had to spend more time patrolling deep zones than dictating action in the box. It worked well enough down the stretch, but it came at a cost.

Starks has the range and instincts to handle the deep third of the field. He sees the field clearly and reacts with purpose. “As good as Hamilton is, he’s a natural strong safety and Starks has been a playmaker along the back end from the day he stepped onto Georgia’s campus, where he started a true freshman on a national championship-winning and all-time great defense,” Sobleski added.

The Ravens believe that foundation will carry over to the NFL. Starks has already shown an ability to recognize route combinations, track the ball in the air, and play through the catch point. He’s comfortable in space, confident in coverage, and wired to attack the football. And in a secondary that struggled to flip the field last year, that’s incredibly important.

Hamilton’s role should evolve back into something more disruptive. The corners should benefit from more reliable help behind them. And if things click quickly, Baltimore may just lucked into the best safety tandem in the league.

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