The 2025 NFL Draft is a few months away. It’ll be interesting to see who the Indianapolis Colts will select, especially in the first round. According to PFF, Georgia safety Malaki Starks would be the perfect pick for the Colts:
“The Colts need help everywhere on defense, as evidenced by six starters missing at least 15 tackles in 2024. Malaki Starks lined up all over Georgia’s defense, allowing just 53 completed balls on 90 throws into his coverage the past two seasons with four picks and 12 forced incompletions. His play against the run is even more impressive, as he totaled 22 stops while missing just three tackles since the start of 2023.”
Barring a trade, the Colts will have the 14th overall pick in the first round. Many fans want the team to select Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. He would be a great addition to the roster, knowing that the tight end position was nonexistent for the Colts this season. But safety is also one of the team’s biggest weaknesses, meaning Malaki Starks would be an ideal pickup as well.
Taking Malaki Starks in the 2025 NFL Draft Makes Sense for the Indianapolis Colts
Spotlighting Starks’ Career
Malaki Starks was a multi-sport athlete at Jefferson High School High, located in Jefferson, Georgia. He played quarterback and safety as a football star. He participated in track and field as well.
Starks then played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs. He started as a true freshman, finishing third on the team in combined tackles with 68. Starks also won a national championship in his debut season as Georgia knocked off TCU 65-7. In addition, he was a finalist for the 2022 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
As a sophomore, Starks had 52 tackles, three interceptions, and seven pass breakups. He was also named a consensus All-American and made first-team All-SEC.
This past season, Starks accumulated 77 tackles (four for loss), an interception, and three passes defensed. Plus, he returned four punts for 39 yards. For his efforts, he earned First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors.
Why the Colts Should Draft Him
Indy’s secondary was one of the NFL’s worst this season. The unit finished 26th in pass defense, allowing 229.4 yards per game. With that said, Malaki Starks, one of the top safety prospects in the draft, would be a good fit for the Colts.
The six-foot-one, 205-pound Starks has blazing speed, which he can use in disrupting opposing wide receivers. His track and field background helps him easily run down backs and receivers.
Colts safety Julian Blackmon will be a free agent this spring. He might not re-sign with the team. If Blackmon doesn’t stay in Indianapolis, Starks could start opposite of fellow safety Nick Cross. Cross had a breakout 2024 season, finishing with 146 total tackles. He and Starks could form a solid, young duo in Indy for years to come.
After parting ways with Gus Bradley, the Colts are searching for a new defensive coordinator. Someone like Wink Martindale, who would bring an aggressive defense to Indianapolis, might become Bradley’s replacement.
Whoever the new coordinator is could improve a Colts secondary, including players like Kenny Moore II, Cross, and JuJu Brents. And if Starks is available in the 2025 draft, the team needs to add him to the mix.
Main Image: Dale Zanine – USA Today Sports
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