Cincinnati Bengals Meet With Possible First Round Draft Target Malaki Starks

The Bengals are focused on upgrading their defense this offseason.

Dec 7, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. (0) attempts to make a catch over Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Malaki Starks (24) during the second half in the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

INDIANAPOLIS — The Bengals met with Georgia safety Malaki Starks at the 2025 NFL Combine. In fact, his first meeting was with Cincinnati.

Starks is considered the top safety in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was a three-year starter at Georgia and is a lock to be a first round pick. He's No. 14 on Dane Brugler's big board.

“You've got to be a great communicator. You've got to be a great tackler," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said when asked about what they're looking for at safety. "Love guys with range that can cover so that you can make those guys interchangeable. But I'd say if you've got two things that you've got to be able to do, they've got to be able to tackle in space, and they've got to be a great communicator.”

The Bengals have had issues on the back end of their defense over the past few seasons. They'll likely take a long look at Starks and the rest of the safeties in this class.

Georgia Safety Malaki Starks first meeting was with the Cincinnati Bengals

Via @TWSN___ pic.twitter.com/aMLnA8y5E9

— Malik Wright (@Wrightreportt) February 27, 2025

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