Malaki Starks — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

PROJECTED TRADE WITH KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Some teams will view Starks as a fair athlete without an NFL position; despite their talent, Brian Branch and Cooper DeJean lasted until the second round for similar reasons. The Ravens won't let that happen, though, as they see Starks' playmaking skills -- just like when they scooped up Kyle Hamilton at No. 14 overall after his 4.59 40 caused other franchises to pass.

Malaki Starks didn't have the greatest performance at the combine, but based on what I've heard, it hasn't done much to hurt his stock amongst NFL teams. A lot of front offices appreciate his versatility and overall demeanor.

Jevón Holland left for the Giants in free agency, and while the Dolphins signed a couple of veterans at the position, Starks would give them a fun chess piece to be used around the defensive back end.

Trade: Vikings trade No. 24 to Eagles for No. 32, a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick.

The Eagles explored multiple trade opportunities before the Vikings revealed themselves to be a reasonable bunch. That the Lions published negotiations on social media remains disappointing. What began as an exercise in market evaluation turned into a pretty fair bargain. The Eagles are likely to have three third-round picks in 2026 and had four 2025 fifth-rounders to sweeten any deal. Not bad for an eight-spot leap. Starks is a sensible choice after trading away C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Texans. The Eagles add a proven playmaker in Starks to a room in which Reed Blankenship is the only established starter. — Brooks Kubena

The further we get into the evaluation process, the more teams I find that are in love with Starks' game. He would be a plug-and-play replacement for Jevon Holland, with the versatility to play as a high safety or nickelback.

Nearly everything seemed to go right for the Commanders in Dan Quinn's first year as head coach, but the play at safety wasn't among them. Then-starters Jeremy Chinn (now a member of the Raiders) and Quan Martin struggled at times. Washington addressed the issue in free agency by signing Will Harris from the Saints, but should the instinctive Starks still be on the board, the Commanders would be wise to double down at the position.

The Bengals go best player available here with Starks, and he'll help to rebuild the secondary in Cincinnati.

The Vikings bolstered their interior on both sides of the ball in free agency, allowing them to draft Starks here. You've got to strengthen a pass defense that gave up the fifth-most passing yards last season. Starks can help there, showing great instincts.

I've mentioned the big-play woes for Baltimore's defense in the past, and the team didn't really do anything to fix them in free agency. It allowed 58 plays for 20 or more yards this past season, third most in the NFL, and Baltimore hasn't added a defensive back. But Starks has the skill set to thrive alongside Kyle Hamilton from the back end. Starks closes well to break up passes and stop the run, and he can be used over the slot, if necessary.

I actually have Starks ranked slightly ahead of Nick Emmanwori as the top safety in the class, even though the Ravens get Starks nine picks after Emmanwori was selected in this scenario.

I just can't fathom the Vikings passing on Malaki Starks given how his versatility would play in Brian Flores' defense. The only thing stopping it is general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's track-record with Georgia safeties.

Dan Quinn's rebuilt defense enters Year 2 with plenty more known than a year ago. The long-term outlook at safety is still a question, though. Will Harris was added in free agency and is projected to start, but the value of Starks this late in the first round would be an awesome addition to help tie the back end together.