Malaki Starks-S-Georgia

Now I want this guy lol. If he's BPA, do it,

Originally posted by BP13:
been digging into this guy and I'm impressed. He played all over the field, nickel, even linebacker, he looks elite.

He was playing out of position a lot this past season due to team need, playing a kind of slot position instead of safety and he still held up well in the SEC. He's a high football IQ guy, a team first player that is well regarded for his leadership and work ethic. He's one of those prospects that teams tend to overthink because he's been so good for so long that he starts to seem almost blah compared to other, shinier prospects.

I'd fully expect him to come in and start at safety from Day 1 and because of the complexity of the NFL like scheme that Georgia runs defensively, to acquit himself very well early on in his career.

Originally posted by Oilcan:

Originally posted by YayArea:
I agree with your assessment that Starks would be a great fit as a free safety to pair with our cadre of box safeties. @Phoenix49ers, I am curious how Starks compares with Mukuba as a free safety / single high safety in your mind.

I think Starks is clearly better.
I would put Mukuba and Xavier Watts close who could possibly be there with our second pick
if we wanted to go in that direction.

I agree. If they don't go with Starks then Mukuba and Watts could be possibilities in the 2nd although I expect Watts to go somewhere in the late 1st/very early 2nd round. Both of those are also more free safety types that can play back deep in coverage.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by Oilcan:

Originally posted by YayArea:
I agree with your assessment that Starks would be a great fit as a free safety to pair with our cadre of box safeties. @Phoenix49ers, I am curious how Starks compares with Mukuba as a free safety / single high safety in your mind.

I think Starks is clearly better.
I would put Mukuba and Xavier Watts close who could possibly be there with our second pick
if we wanted to go in that direction.

I agree. If they don't go with Starks then Mukuba and Watts could be possibilities in the 2nd although I expect Watts to go somewhere in the late 1st/very early 2nd round. Both of those are also more free safety types that can play back deep in coverage.

I've seen Watts go as low as 45 in some mocks, but I can see if Kansas City lets Reid walk them taking him in the first.

Originally posted by Oilcan:
I've seen Watts go as low as 45 in some mocks, but I can see if Kansas City lets Reid walk them taking him in the first.

I think Watts when all is said and done will be a late 1st. He'll test well, he's been improving steadily as a safety after switching over from wide receiver, he's got the athleticism and awareness to play a true deep safety position with no help over the top, he's easily the #2 guy in my eyes and not all that far behind Starks honestly.

Trust me I would absolutely love Malaki Starks (if Graham) wasn't there. But history has shown that John Lynch doesn't draft secondary let alone Safety in the 1st round. And he's starting to piss me off with that kind of thinking or else Cooper DeJean would've been a 49er.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by Oilcan:
I've seen Watts go as low as 45 in some mocks, but I can see if Kansas City lets Reid walk them taking him in the first.

I think Watts when all is said and done will be a late 1st. He'll test well, he's been improving steadily as a safety after switching over from wide receiver, he's got the athleticism and awareness to play a true deep safety position with no help over the top, he's easily the #2 guy in my eyes and not all that far behind Starks honestly.

Agree with this Phoenix, love me some Watts. What separates them in my opinion is run support; Starks is Jimmie Ward in this area and is a sure tackler that can also thump. And the versatility that Starks brings, dude can and has lined up everywhere in the secondary and was good at all positions. But Watts is still growing; someone comped Starks to Kyle Hamilton, I think Watts is the better comparison.

Originally posted by Kolohe:
Trust me I would absolutely love Malaki Starks (if Graham) wasn't there. But history has shown that John Lynch doesn't draft secondary let alone Safety in the 1st round. And he's starting to piss me off with that kind of thinking or else Cooper DeJean would've been a 49er.

Wait you think John has a say in who gets drafted in the first couple rounds?

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

He's one of the drafts blue chippers. Someone I consider a can't miss prospect. He'd take our secondary to another level AND HELP RUN DEFENSE.

1. Mason Graham
2. Will Johnson
3. Abdul Carter
4. Malaki Starks

I wouldn't hesitate to take any of those 4 if available. All future pro bowlers/all pros IMO

I'd be okay with James Pearce. And highly intrigued with Jalon Walker.

Originally posted by Kolohe:
Trust me I would absolutely love Malaki Starks (if Graham) wasn't there. But history has shown that John Lynch doesn't draft secondary let alone Safety in the 1st round. And he's starting to piss me off with that kind of thinking or else Cooper DeJean would've been a 49er.

Yup I was pounding the table for Cooper DeJean and arguing with folks that thought he couldn't play CB in the NFL. Stupid miss; he was so obviously the BPA.

I like Starks even more…..

Originally posted by 49ers808:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

He's one of the drafts blue chippers. Someone I consider a can't miss prospect. He'd take our secondary to another level AND HELP RUN DEFENSE.

1. Mason Graham
2. Will Johnson
3. Abdul Carter
4. Malaki Starks

I wouldn't hesitate to take any of those 4 if available. All future pro bowlers/all pros IMO

I'd be okay with James Pearce. And highly intrigued with Jalon Walker.

Onboard with all of this. Man, if any of those Top 3 you listed could slip to #11...would be incredible. Starks would also be a great addition at #11.

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:

Originally posted by 49ers808:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

He's one of the drafts blue chippers. Someone I consider a can't miss prospect. He'd take our secondary to another level AND HELP RUN DEFENSE.

1. Mason Graham
2. Will Johnson
3. Abdul Carter
4. Malaki Starks

I wouldn't hesitate to take any of those 4 if available. All future pro bowlers/all pros IMO

I'd be okay with James Pearce. And highly intrigued with Jalon Walker.

Onboard with all of this. Man, if any of those Top 3 you listed could slip to #11...would be incredible. Starks would also be a great addition at #11.

Of that list, I only expect Starks to be available and he's absolutely BPA. Only way I'd go in a different direction is if Graham falls past 6th. Other than that, go Starks. Lenoir- Green- Starks-Mustapha has the potential to be our best secondary since the Harbaugh years or even 94/95.