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In this highly anticipated segment of "2 Giants Goofballs: New York Giants News & Updates," hosts Drew and Rob dive into one of the most hyped safety prospects for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft—Malaki Starks out of Georgia. With Georgia continuing to be a powerhouse for NFL talent, Starks emerges as a rare defensive back with elite versatility and top-tier production who could easily be the only safety taken in the first round. The Goofballs take a deep look at his impressive collegiate résumé and discuss what makes him stand out in a relatively thin class of 2025 NFL Draft safeties.
Standing at 6'1" and weighing 205 pounds, the 21-year-old Starks has been making noise since stepping onto the field in Athens. After being named a Freshman All-American in 2022, he followed up with a Consensus All-American nod and First-Team All-SEC honors in 2023. In just fourteen games last season, Starks notched 77 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, an interception, and 3 passes deflected, all while earning a 78.3 PFF grade. But what really sets Starks apart is his versatility. He logged 40 snaps as a deep safety, 215 in the box, and 271 in the slot, proving he can line up just about anywhere in the secondary.
Drew and Rob highlight how Georgia’s coaching staff leaned heavily into that versatility in 2024, which may have impacted his overall performance compared to 2023. His tape from last season wasn’t quite as dominant, in part because he was moved away from his strongest position—deep safety—where his ball-hawking instincts, coverage skills, and range shine brightest. While he still played at a high level, his most impactful plays tend to come when he’s given space to survey and react in the deep third.
Despite the dip in tape from 2024, the Goofballs point out that Starks remains their top-rated safety in this draft class. His ability to diagnose plays, track the ball in coverage, and contribute against the run gives him the kind of balanced skill set that NFL scouts and coaches covet. Given the lack of high-end talent at the safety position this year, Starks is projected as a late first-round pick and possibly the only true Day 1 selection among 2025 NFL Draft safeties.
This breakdown adds to the ongoing conversation around the best safeties NFL Draft 2025 has to offer and where Starks fits into the 2025 NFL Draft safety rankings. If you’re looking for insight into the top safeties 2025 NFL Draft scouts are watching or trying to understand why Starks is rising on draft boards, this is the segment you don’t want to miss. His name continues to appear on every list of top safety NFL Draft prospects, and with his upside and versatility, Malaki Starks could be one of the rare defensive backs who makes an immediate impact on Sundays.
Standing at 6'1" and weighing 205 pounds, the 21-year-old Starks has been making noise since stepping onto the field in Athens. After being named a Freshman All-American in 2022, he followed up with a Consensus All-American nod and First-Team All-SEC honors in 2023. In just fourteen games last season, Starks notched 77 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, an interception, and 3 passes deflected, all while earning a 78.3 PFF grade. But what really sets Starks apart is his versatility. He logged 40 snaps as a deep safety, 215 in the box, and 271 in the slot, proving he can line up just about anywhere in the secondary.
Drew and Rob highlight how Georgia’s coaching staff leaned heavily into that versatility in 2024, which may have impacted his overall performance compared to 2023. His tape from last season wasn’t quite as dominant, in part because he was moved away from his strongest position—deep safety—where his ball-hawking instincts, coverage skills, and range shine brightest. While he still played at a high level, his most impactful plays tend to come when he’s given space to survey and react in the deep third.
Despite the dip in tape from 2024, the Goofballs point out that Starks remains their top-rated safety in this draft class. His ability to diagnose plays, track the ball in coverage, and contribute against the run gives him the kind of balanced skill set that NFL scouts and coaches covet. Given the lack of high-end talent at the safety position this year, Starks is projected as a late first-round pick and possibly the only true Day 1 selection among 2025 NFL Draft safeties.
This breakdown adds to the ongoing conversation around the best safeties NFL Draft 2025 has to offer and where Starks fits into the 2025 NFL Draft safety rankings. If you’re looking for insight into the top safeties 2025 NFL Draft scouts are watching or trying to understand why Starks is rising on draft boards, this is the segment you don’t want to miss. His name continues to appear on every list of top safety NFL Draft prospects, and with his upside and versatility, Malaki Starks could be one of the rare defensive backs who makes an immediate impact on Sundays.
