Baltimore Ravens rookie safety Malaki Starks has had his eye on Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff for a while. Back in April, before the 2025 NFL draft, Starks was asked by Kay Adams which NFL quarterback he’s hoping to intercept as a professional defensive back. Typically, when asked this question, defenders point to MVP winners like Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, or Lamar Jackson. Starks took the unconventional route and picked Goff.
“Just talking to some of my (Georgia Bulldog) teammates that used to play here that are in the league now, he’s like an elite of the elite quarterback,” Starks said. “So just being able to add that to my resume (with) some of the guys, the way they talk about him, that’d be cool.”
This week, Starks gets his shot. And on Wednesday, he was asked if he still feels that way about picking him off.
“(Goff)‘s an elite quarterback in the league,” Starks said. (I have) much respect for him. So, yes, I (would) love to for sure.”
It won’t be easy for the first-round pick. In recent years, Goff has become much more careful with the football. After having an interception percentage of 2.6 and 2.4 in his last two years with the Los Angeles Rams, Goff has kept it at 2.0 or under for three of his four seasons in Detroit. And if not for an odd five-interception game against the Texans last year, he would’ve done it for all four years.
Of course, even stopping this Lions offense will present a big challenge for the Ravens. Detroit led the league in points scored last year, and they’re already ranked third in that statistic this year after hanging 52 on the Chicago Bears last week.
“They are very versatile. They’ve got a great group of guys, very well coached. They’re elite,” Starks said. “So, like I said earlier, we have to be on our p’s and q’s. We have to be on (the) same page, have to communicate, but also just go out there and play ball, trusting our abilities and in our training, and just go do what we can.”
Starks has been the Ravens’ starting safety opposite All-Pro Kyle Hamilton, after the Ravens lost Ar’Darius Washington to a torn Achilles in the offseason. The rookie has had a bit of a slow start to the year, with 14 tackles, no passes defended, and a 54.2 PFF grade. Still, it looks like he’ll have some extra motivation for Detroit this week.
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