Leading up the NFL Draft, NewYorkJets.com will use NFL Draft analyst comments to "Make Your Case" why certain draft prospects would be a good fit for the team.
The Jets hold eight picks in the 2025 NFL Draft including the No. 7 overall selection. The first round will take place April 24 in Green Bay at 8 p.m. EDT. Day 2 will be April 25 and Day 3 April 26.
Today's player: Georgia S Malaki Starks
Background/Player Profile
Malaki Starks (6-1, 197) burst on the scene at Georgia and started as a freshman in the team's national championship defense. The Bulldogs won back-to-back championships – in 2021 the year before Starks set foot on campus and the in 2022 when Starks was a freshman. He was named a freshman All-American, a consensus All-American in 2023 and a first-team All-American in 2024.
"This guy starts as a freshman immediately in that environment for a Kirby Smart defense and Kirby played defensive back, so you have to really be on your Ps and Qs because he holds defensive backs to a higher standard," PFF NFL Draft analyst Trevor Sikkema said at the NFL Combine in February. "Malaki earned a starting spot and impacted right away. It was kind of a bummer because he wasn't as impactful this past year, but I kind of just chalk it up to he kind of had a down year."
Starks, from Jefferson, GA, set career-highs this past season with a team-leading 77 tackles and 4 tackles for loss but his 4 pass defenses and 1 interception were the fewest in his three seasons in Athens. He had 10 PDs and 3 picks in the 2023 season and 9 PD and 2 INT as a freshman.
"He might be one of the smartest players in this draft class," CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson said. "He can play centerfield, his sideline-to-sideline is off the charts. He has ball skills, he's incredibly smart. He will come downhill and pop you. If you told me he went No. 7, I'd be like sign me up for that. He may last because he plays a position that sometimes gets pushed down a little bit. He's a Day 1 starter, he's an easy evaluation. He's going to be great in the interviews, he's incredibly personable."
Check out photos of the top 2025 NFL Draft prospects that were mocked to the Jets at No. 7 by various national news outlets over the past few months.
LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell has been one of the most mocked players to the Jets with the No. 7 pick, most recently by ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum.
Michigan DL Mason Graham has been one of the most popular players projected to the Jets with the No. 7 pick, most recently by NFL.com Eric Edholm.
Missouri OT Armand Membou has gained recent popularity being mocked players to the Jets with the No. 7 pick, most recently by ESPN's Field Yates.
Michigan defensive back Will Johnson was mocked to the Jets at No. 7 early in the offseason, recently by The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner.
Penn State tight end Tyler Warren was mocked to the Jets recently by CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso and ESPN's Mel Kiper.
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter has been a favorite projection to the Jets by Pro Football Focus, most recently mocked by John Kosko to the Jets.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has been selected by the Jets in Nick Baumgardner's most recent mock.
Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams was mocked to the Jets early in the draft season by NFL.com's Chad Reuter.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward was mocked to the Green & White by FOX Sports' Joel Klatt among others.
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart was projected to the Jets by The Athletic's Mike Sando.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was forecasted to the Jets by ESPN's Mel Kiper.
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker was mocked to the Jets in the first round by NFL.com's Dan Parr.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was projected to the Jets by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
The Fit
The Jets have four safeties on their roster and each either signed a one-year deal or are entering the final year of their contract. Andre Cisco is penciled in as one of the team's starters and opposite him could be Tony Adams, Isaiah Oliver, Jarius Monroe or Jaylin Simpson.
Adams, who started 11 games in the 2024 season, and Oliver (7 starts) have the most experience other than Cisco, who has started in 47 of the 63 games he's played in.
Where He's Projected in Mock Drafts
NFL.com: No. 26 (Rams)
ESPN: No. 27 (Ravens)
CBS Sports: No. 18 (Seahawks)
PFF: No. 21 (Steelers)
Other Players in the Field
Some evaluators, such as The Athletic's Dane Brugler, have South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori as the top safety in the class. Emmanwori (6-3, 220) is a bigger safety who thrives near the line of scrimmage. He's the first Gamecocks defender since Jadeveon Clowney (the No. 1 pick in 2014) to earn freshman All-American honors. Emmanwori also led the team in tackles in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Potential Day 2 options include Notre Dame's Xavier Watts, Penn State's Kevin Winston Jr., Virginia's Jonas Sanker and Texas' Andrew Mukuba.
