Malaki Starks didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet in his rookie campaign, but if you watched closely, you saw the flashes-the kind that make you believe something big is on the horizon. The Baltimore Ravens' 2025 first-round pick had an up-and-down debut season, but heading into 2026, all signs point to a breakout year for the young safety.
It’s not just wishful thinking. Starks logged over 1,000 snaps in his rookie season, gaining valuable reps alongside veterans Kyle Hamilton and Alohi Gilman.
That kind of on-field experience is gold for a young defensive back adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NFL. He finished the year with a 68.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus-not elite, but certainly solid for a rookie learning the ropes in a demanding system.
And when it came to stopping the run, Starks was downright impressive. His 79.9 run-defense grade ranked among the top 20 safeties in the league, showing that he’s not afraid to get downhill and make a play.
Where Starks showed the most room for growth was in coverage. There were moments of brilliance-two interceptions and a 60.9% completion rate allowed-but they were mixed with stretches of inconsistency.
In six games, he gave up more than 10 yards per target, a number that defensive coordinators don’t like to see. But this is where the upside comes into play.
The raw tools are there. The instincts are there.
Now it’s about refining the technique and putting it all together for a full season.
Enter Jesse Minter, the Ravens’ new head coach and a defensive mind with a track record of maximizing safety play. During his time with the Chargers, Minter worked with versatile safeties and built schemes that emphasized flexibility and disguise.
That bodes well for a player like Starks, who thrives when he’s allowed to roam, read, and react. With Hamilton already established as one of the league’s premier hybrid defenders, Minter has a chance to pair him with Starks in ways that could give opposing quarterbacks headaches.
And let’s not overlook the mentorship factor. Having Kyle Hamilton in the same room is a massive advantage for Starks.
Hamilton’s growth into a do-it-all safety didn’t happen overnight-it took time, coaching, and the right system. Starks is now walking a similar path, and the Ravens are betting that with the right guidance, he can take that next leap.
If Alohi Gilman returns, the Ravens could deploy a three-safety look that gives them flexibility across the board. Gilman’s experience, combined with Hamilton’s versatility and Starks’ athleticism, opens the door for creative packages and disguised coverages. It’s the kind of setup that could become the backbone of Baltimore’s defense.
Looking at the bigger picture, the Ravens are clearly leaning into their defensive identity in 2026. After a disappointing season, the front office brought in Minter to reestablish that edge.
And while there’s still work to be done in free agency and the draft, the safety group looks like a foundational strength. If Starks takes the leap many expect, it could elevate the entire unit.
Baltimore has a promising group of young defenders-Nate Wiggins, Mike Green, Teddye Buchanan-but Starks might have the highest ceiling of them all. He’s got the athletic profile, the college pedigree, and now, a full season of NFL experience. If he can clean up the coverage lapses and build on his run-stopping prowess, we could be looking at one of the league’s next great safeties.
For the Ravens, a breakout season from Starks wouldn’t just be a nice storyline-it could be a turning point. A young safety stepping into a starring role would go a long way in helping this defense return to its dominant roots. And if that happens, Baltimore could find itself right back in the thick of the AFC race.