Our Top 10 Safeties in 2025 Draft

Here is #2 on our list of top ten safeties. We watched a number of his game and read plenty of material about what type of player some team is going to get. This is the analysis we came up with Beyond Starks measurables, He has established himself as one of college football's most complete safeties during his three year career at Georgia. Starks proved himself most valuable as a tone-setter in Georgia's run defense. His combination of track speed and physical play helped him develop into one of the SEC's most reliable tacklers, rarely missing opportunities to finish plays.

#2- Malaki Starks- (S) Georgia (6'1"/205#)

Starks is an elite run defender who diagnoses plays quickly and triggers downhill with exceptional explosiveness and angles of pursuit. He's a phenomenal Tackler with a rare combination of technique and physicality, he consistently drives through contact with proper form. His outstanding strength at the point of attack against blockers, shows advanced hand usage to shed and make plays in traffic. Starks plays with controlled aggression in run support and maintains gap integrity while showing to redirect ball carriers. He has good recognition skills in zone coverage with the ability to read the QB's intentions and break on throws. His verified track speed translates to impressive range when aligned deep. Starks shows solid pant-and-drive ability against intermediate routes, particularly in match-zone concepts. He's a natural leader who commanded Georgia's backfield with consistent communication.
However, starks needs to improve on his transitional quickness when changing directions in man coverage against shifty slot receivers. He is at times a beat late recognizing route combinations in zone, particularly against multiple vertical threats. His occasional overaggressive angles in deep coverage lead to missed opportunities to make plays on the ball. Starks coverage technique from press alignment remains a work in progress, especially against quick releases. He could develop better consistency timing his breaks on throws in front of him in off coverage.
Starks enters the NFL draft as one of the most pro-ready run defenders from the safety position. His elite tackling grades and remarkable consistency against the run will translate immediately at the next level, while his coverage skills offer a solid foundation to build upon.