The Colts have already had a meeting with what could be their free safety of the future.
Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts are among the teams that have met with Georgia safety Malaki Starks.
Starting in all three years at Georgia, Starks totaled six interceptions and seventeen passes defended from everywhere in the defensive backfield. Listed at 6’1”, 205 lbs, he started at the team’s dime linebacker position as a true freshman, moved back to the free safety spot for his final two seasons (while still logging valuable snaps both in the box and at slot corner), but finished his 2024 season playing more in the slot on pivotal 3rd down situations than ever before.
Starks played a big role as a true freshman in Georgia’s national title run back in 2022 and remained a pivotal part of its defense throughout the rest of his career. Given that his lone All-American nod came via the season where he primarily played at free safety in high-leverage situations, that paired with his versatility as a defensive back could be the perfect piece to add to Colts DC Lou Anarumo’s fresh start in Indianapolis.
Below is Starks’ NFL.com draft profile:
As mentioned by Lance Zierlein in the attached prospect profile, Starks’ inconsistency in man would be less of a concern within Anarumo’s defense to the Colts already having a primary box defender and slot-corner in DBs Nick Cross and Kenny Moore II.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard mentioned that safety is a need during his media availability on Tuesday, but with free agency coming before the NFL Draft, that concern can be alleviated sooner rather than later. The Colts have elected to build their defensive backfield of recent years through the draft and waiver wire claims, but with that method lacking as of late, perhaps a turn to a proven veteran in free agency will be Indy’s next form of acquisition.
Regardless, the Colts are in desperate need of a free-ranging safety to pair with its sure-tackling box safety in Nick Cross and Georgia’s Malaki Starks fits the bill seamlessly.