ESPN’s premier draft analyst remains steadfast in the Georgia defensive back going to Baltimore.
In his latest two-round mock draft released on April 8, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Ravens selecting safety Malaki Starks out of Georgia with the No. 27 overall pick in the first round. This is the same pick Kiper had the Ravens making in his mock draft a few weeks ago.
“Starks does a little bit of everything,” Kiper wrote. “He can step up into the box and stop the run. He can drop over the slot in coverage. And he can patrol center field with his closing speed.”
This type of versatility is a big reason why many, including Kiper, have ranked the former Bulldog as the top safety prospect in this year’s draft class. Kiper sees Starks as a good fit on the Ravens’ defense and an instant-impact player.
“Baltimore was burned by big plays last season (58 opponent plays went for 20 or more yards, third most in the NFL),” Kiper noted. “The Ravens tried a few different players at the safety spot next to Kyle Hamilton, and the midseason switch to Ar’Darius Washington helped. But Starks would be a real difference-maker.”
The Ravens’ defensive struggles in allowing big plays was particularly an issue in the first half of the season. As first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr settled in as the year progressed and they made some personnel changes, like making Washington a starter at safety, Baltimore’s defense eventually became an elite group once again.
However, to Kiper’s point, Starks could make a significant impact right away and the Ravens need depth at the position. They lack an established No. 3 safety on the depth chart right now and also Washington’s long-term future with the Ravens is unclear.
Starks may not slide until No. 27 like Kiper is predicting. If he does, though, the Ravens surely would have him ranked fairly high on their draft board. Alongside Starks, Nick Emmanwori out of South Carolina is another player some consider to be the best safety prospect and potential first-round pick.
In the second round, Kiper mocked outside linebacker David Walker out of Central Arkansas to the Ravens with the No. 59 overall pick. Like safety, outside linebacker/edge rusher is considered one of the team’s biggest needs heading into the draft.
“He [Walker] shows quickness, power and bend off the edge, and he mixes up his pass-rush plans to keep offensive tackles guessing,” Kiper said. “Walker had 31 sacks and 63 tackles for loss over the past three seasons.”
As a smaller-school prospect, Walker is probably a prospect that many fans are not familiar with off initial glance. However, as Kiper points out, he possesses a lot of attractive traits as a second-round prospect with collegiate production to supplement it. Walker has averaged 10.3 sacks and 21 tackles for loss annually over the past three years. He also recorded four forced fumbles and five passes defended in 2024, showcasing an all-around skill set.
“With Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh both entering the final years of their deals, the Ravens might start looking to the future,” Kiper wrote. “Walker would become the highest-drafted Central Arkansas player ever if he goes on Day 2.”
Kiper’s first point is especially notable and is why edge rusher is such a prominent need for the Ravens in the draft. Van Noy is 34 years old and Oweh is playing under his fifth-year option next season without a long-term deal in place. As such, the future of the Ravens’ top two pass-rushers is uncertain.
Tavius Robinson, David Ojabo, and Adisa Isaac are the team’s other edge rushers behind them. All three are young with some untapped upside, but far from proven nor can be expected to take a significant leap in 2025-26. Therefore, the Ravens could use a pass-rusher prospect with long-term upside but also one that can produce from Day 1.
Expect Kiper and other draft analysts to continue mocking these two positions to the Ravens in the weeks to come, as the draft approaches at the end of the month.