Malaki Starks Handed Himself a C-Minus, And His Plan To Fix It Involves Jon Gruden

Alright, listen up, Emerald City! You gotta respect a player who's willing to be brutally honest with himself, even when he was a first-round pick. Ravens safety Malaki Starks, a guy who entered the league with some serious hype in 2025, just dropped a truth bomb on his rookie season. He says it was nowhere near his standard, and he's not messing around trying to fix it. His big move to elevate his game? He's linking up with former Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden, and if that doesn't scream "no excuses," I don't know what does.

No Participation Trophies Here: Starks Gets Real

Starks isn't one to sugarcoat things. He reflected on his first year back in May, and weeks later, his opinion hasn't budged one bit. This dude literally gave himself a "C-plus, B-minus" on his rookie report card when talking to Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com. Think about that for a second. A first-round talent, not settling for "good enough," but knowing he has more in the tank. That's the kind of drive you want to see from *any* player, whether they're rocking green and blue or any other jersey. He’s already making moves to ensure his second season blows that grade out of the water. Part of his strategy? Integrating pilates into his offseason routine. Plus, he's added some serious bulk, playing at 202 pounds last year, but clearly looking to be even more physically dominant. This isn't just about showing up, it's a

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bout *improving* everything.

The Gruden Gambit: An Unexpected Play

Now, here's where it gets really interesting. To raise that self-imposed grade, Starks isn't just working out; he's bringing in a big gun. He's heading back to consult with Jon Gruden. Yeah, *that* Jon Gruden. Starks trained with Gruden before the draft, and it clearly made an impact. "I’m going to get back with Jon Gruden," Starks told Zrebiec. "I trained with him before the draft, so I’m going to get back with him and pick his brain a little bit. . . . It’s awesome. I trained with him for the draft. He prepped me for the draft and we’ve been really cool ever since. Just to learn from a guy like him and have him as a resource, I think it will be huge." With a new head coach, Jesse Minter, taking the reins, Starks sees this as a fresh slate, saying "everybody gets a new start." Getting Gruden's insight is clearly a crucial piece of his plan to make the most of that clean slate. You gotta respect the hustle, 12s. Starks isn't waiting for someone else to push him. He knows his performance wasn't where it needed to be, and he's actively seeking out top-tier resources to change that narrative for his second season. This kind of self-awareness and dedication is what separates the good from the great in this league. With his intense offseason work, don't be surprised if that C-plus, B-minus turns into a straight-up A by the time next season wraps. That’s the kind of competitor everyone wants on their team, plain and simple.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.