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NFL Draft 2025: Malaki Starks picked No. 27 overall in Round 1
By Mark Kern
Published:
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart puts defensive players in the NFL like few others around the country, and that was once again the case on Thursday night as Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams both came off the board in the first 15 picks at the 2025 NFL Draft.
They were joined by another teammate later on, as former Georgia safety Malaki Starks was taken No. 27 by the Baltimore Ravens.
Starks becomes the 51st first-round pick in Georgia history, and the first defensive back selected in the first round since Lewis Cine was No. 32 in the 2022 NFL Draft. Georgia has also now had at least 3 first-round picks in 3 of the last 4 NFL Drafts.
During his career at Georgia, Starks showcased his ability to impact a game both in the run game as well as being a force against the pass.
He played 3 seasons for Georgia, and he became an instant starter for Kirby Smart. He started 42 of the 43 games during his time at Georgia, and he was a huge part of the team winning a national championship as a freshman.
In 3 seasons, he finished with 197 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions, and 23 pass breakups. He was a 2-time first-team All-SEC selection, a Freshman All-American in 2022, and a 2-time first-team All-American. He was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award.
He had just 1 interception last season, but that had more to do with the fact that teams were wary to throw at him. When they did, he made internet-breaking interceptions. He is a guy who instantly becomes a leader in the locker room, and is the type of player who can make up for mistakes by cornerbacks.
