Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr predicts Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks will win AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. But oddsmakers aren’t in agreement.
Earlier this month, Baltimore Beatdown asked fans which rookie Raven has the best chance to win a Rookie of the Year award. Overwhelmingly, fans believed if any of their rookie class had a chance, it was second-round outside linebacker Mike Green.
I myself stated Green had the best chance, too, seeing as seven of the past ten winners were edge rushers and the remaining three were cornerbacks. Defensive awards are all about gaudy stats rather than what isn’t reflected from the numbers. But Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr is a believer that first-round safety Malaki Starks will be the winner.
“The safety out of Georgia will run up the score with a top-five interception total in the league and flex his all-around playmaking ability in a Baltimore defense that steamrolls opponents, finishing fourth in EPA per play—a sizable jump from an 11th-place finish last season,” Orr wrote.
It’s totally likely Starks could rapidly be among the NFL’s elite safeties. Starks alone is a multi-talented defensive weapon. Paired with safety Kyle Hamilton — the NFL’s best safety and multi-talented star — there is no limit to what Starks can achieve. But the oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook aren’t in agreement.
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
- EDGE Abdul Carter (+250)
- EDGE Jalon Walker (+700)
- DB Travis Hunter (+1,000)
- EDGE Mykel Williams (+1,000)
- EDGE Shemar Stewart (+1,200)
- DL Mason Graham (+1,200)
- EDGE Mike Green (+1,500)
- ILB Jihaad Campbell (+1,500)
- EDGE James Pearce Jr. (+1,600)
- S Malaki Starks (+2,000)
- DB Jahdae Barron (+2,000)
While the oddsmakers don’t agree, movement has been made in Starks’ favor. On May 9, Starks was No. 14 in odds at +2,500. Now, he’s up to No. 10 at +2,000, a noticeable leap. So, while he’s still far from being favored, there’s growing believe he could be among the better ranks, especially after the loss of safety Ar’Darius Washington.