The Baltimore Ravens have a storied history at the safety position. From Hall of Famers like Rod Woodson and Ed Reed to savvy veterans such as Eric Weddle, and key contributors like Kim Herring, Anthony Mitchell, Will Demps, Dawan Landry, and Jim Leonhard, Baltimore has consistently done a strong job solidifying the position over the years.
Nowadays, the Ravens have a superstar at the position in Kyle Hamilton, their first-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2025, Baltimore added another by selecting Malaki Starks to pair with him.
The Hamilton-Starks combo could be Baltimore’s new identity
There’s a lot of excitement around what these two could become—not just in 2025, but for years to come. Some already believe Baltimore might have the best safety duo in the league. It’s hard not to think about the potential Hamilton and Starks bring to the table, especially after Hamilton’s breakout season, where he tallied 107 tackles, two sacks, nine passes defensed, and an interception. He even earned Defensive Player of the Year votes, finishing ninth.
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus recently highlighted his top rookie-veteran pairings heading into the 2025 season, and Baltimore’s safety tandem made the cut. Expectations are sky-high for this duo, and Sikkema had this to say:
"Starks now pairs with Hamilton, an extremely versatile player who earned PFF grades above 88.0 in all three defensive categories in 2024: run defense (89.2), pass rush (88.1) and coverage (88.4)."
"Starks’ 2024 grades weren’t career highs, but he showcased good versatility, playing more than 900 defensive snaps — 218 in the box, 280 in the slot and 408 as a free safety. Starks and Hamilton together give the Ravens a lot of flexibility on the back end."
As Baltimore gets its first look at Starks during rookie mini-camp—and later when he hits the field for mini-camp and training camp—they’ll begin to see what their first-round pick brings to the table. Starks and Hamilton should see plenty of snaps together as practices progress.
For Starks, having arguably the best safety in the NFL next to him as he learns the Ravens defense under Zach Orr is a huge advantage. Hamilton’s presence can help cover for any rookie mistakes. Both safeties thrive against the run, in blitz packages, and in pass coverage. Orr and head coach John Harbaugh will have plenty to work with in 2025—and by the time December rolls around, Hamilton and Starks could be one of the most impactful duos in the league.
