The Baltimore Ravens have assembled one of the NFL's most talented safety rooms, and one of its biggest advantages may extend beyond what happens on Sundays. For rookie safety Malaki Starks, sharing a meeting room with Kyle Hamilton has become part of the learning process.
Following Baltimore's practice at Maryland's SECU Stadium, head coachJesse Minter, quarterback Lamar Jackson, and second-year safety Malaki Starks were made available to the media. Starks described Hamilton as "the best safety in the league" before explaining how the two-time Pro Bowler has helped him navigate the early stages of his NFL career.
"He's the best safety in the league, and he will be for a long time. Just to have a guy like him to be able to lean on and talk to,
and just be able to watch his footwork, his movements, his thought process... Sitting beside him in meetings has been really huge for my development."
He offered similar praise to newly acquired Jaylinn Hawkins. "I think if you look at his tape, he just pops off the tape." Fresh off a two-year stint with the New England Patriots, Hawkins agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract to join Baltimore on March 12.
"Yes, I think the biggest thing with adding Jaylinn Hawkins is just the versatility and the knowledge that he brings to the room. Just to be able to learn from a guy like him, and pick up on his process, how he does things... It's been a great addition for everybody."
Kyle Hamilton is teaching more than technique
Starks' comments reveal that Hamilton's influence extends well beyond offering encouragement between practices. Rather than focusing only on physical tools, the rookie has paid close attention to the details that separate elite safeties from talented ones. Hamilton's footwork, pre-snap preparation and ability to process information have become part of Starks' daily education as he adjusts to the speed of the NFL.
Those lessons align with what Ravens head coach Jesse Minter recently said about Starks' development. While praising the rookie's physical ability and collegiate experience, Minter explained that the next step is building confidence and learning to anticipate offensive concepts before the snap.
"I think it is building that confidence and that pre-snap look to where you can look and anticipate things. Then, when you do that, your natural ability allows you to be ahead of the play rather than behind the play."
Hamilton and Hawkins have no doubt provided a valuable resource for the Ravens' rookie. Baltimore drafted Starks because they believe he has the athletic ability to become a difference-maker in the secondary. Now, in year two, he has the opportunity to learn alongside two of the league's premier safeties while making that transition.
Hamilton's mentorship won't appear in the box score, but it could have a meaningful impact on how quickly Starks develops into the player the Ravens envisioned when they selected him. As training camp continues, Starks' growth won't be measured solely by interceptions or highlight plays. It will also be reflected in how quickly the game slows down, how confidently he reacts before the snap and how effectively he applies the lessons he's learning from the teammate sitting beside him every day.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Malaki Starks credits Kyle Hamilton for accelerating his development
