Legendary ESPN draft expert breaks down why he loves Georgia safety Malaki Starks, and why an edge rusher can get the Ravens over the hump in AFC
After months of waiting, we’re just ten days away from Round 1 of the 2025 NFL draft, where Tennessee is expected to land Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick. Baltimore will pick at No. 27 overall, and the assumption is that the Ravens will add another defender to the roster.
The question becomes, does Eric DeCosta draft another cornerback in the first round, or should he pivot and add an edge rusher, or dynamic safety. Legendary ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper was a guest on ‘The Lounge Podcast’ and joined team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to break down why he loves Georgia safety Malaki Starks, and why a top pass rusher like Shemar Stewart suits Baltimore best.
Stewart would bring athleticism and physicality to a position that will see Van Noy one year older and Ojabo likely as the odd man out. Baltimore was third in the NFL with 34.5 sacks, but the team needs an edge rusher to complement Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh. David Ojabo has underperformed, while Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac have yet to produce on a week-to-week basis.
Stewart joined Texas A&M as one of the top recruits in the 2022 class, appearing in 37 games for the Aggies over the last three seasons and amassing 65 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, four passes defensed, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in those games. The production from a sack and pressure standpoint was lacking at times. Still, Stewart cemented his status at the NFL Scouting Combine, weighing 267 pounds and recording an unofficial Relative Athletic Score of 10.00, surpassing former A&M star Myles Garrett.
If it’s safety, Malaki Starks could make Kyle Hamilton even more dangerous thanks to both players’ versatility. Starks played three seasons for the Bulldogs, recording 197 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, and six interceptions in his collegiate career. In the 2024 season, he had 77 total tackles, four for loss, and one interception. He was an All-American in 2023.