Ravens first-round rookie Malaki Starks joins team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to talk about his outlook on training camp, how he handles the pressure of being an instant starter, how he's learning the defense and gelling with Kyle Hamilton, how he plans to be a leader, his challenging Georgia upbringing, and much more.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink
here with Garrett Downing, and we are thrilled to sit
down with first round pick Malachi Starks. Thanks for joining us, Malachi,
thank you. And uh So I noticed this on you know,
as the rookies reported yesterday, you came back for training camp,
and I noticed that when you were walking in this
keen eye of mine, all right, I noticed that you
(00:26):
welcomed us to train camp. Like That's how nice a
guy you are, right, It's like we're welcoming you back
to training camp. You're like, hey, welcome, everybody, welcome, Welcome,
like just a nice guy.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So I figured that, like a lot of people spend
time like welcome us back, and nobody does it for
everybody else has been here. So it's nice TOI yeah,
it's nice to hear every once in a while.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
What add, what's what's going through your mind as you
return for training camp for your first one?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I'm excited. I think the break was very necessary. I
think a lot of guys came back in a very
good spirit and right of mind. I think today was
a really good day. I think a lot of guys
are just excited. You know, it's our first time. We
don't really know what to expect. So just really trying
to lean on the older guys with their knowledge and
you know, the the process that they've been through already
(01:13):
and try to go through that with them and you know,
have my own process as well.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
So as you look ahead to this rookie season, your
first training camp, what has you most excited?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Really Just to be in a new uniform. I think
I I've been in Georgia for so long. I grew
up thirty minutes from the University of Georgia and then
it felt like I was wearing red and black.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
For like forever.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So just to be in you know, purple and black
and you know, like really indulge in you know what
that means with the culture and the city and you know,
the building around here and everybody. I think, I'm excited
just to dive into a new process of my life.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
So there's no doubt that there's a lot on your plate.
You get drafted in the first round, there's see a
lot that comes with that. And then soon after that, unfortunately,
our Darius Washington gets hurt, he goes down, and so
you've been taking pretty much every first team reps it
is to day that you stepped on campus here. How
do you handle the responsibility that comes with all that.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, I think, uh just looking as it, you know,
as a privilege. I think that's what I asked for.
You know, when I signed up, I knew what I
was signing up for, and really just taking that on
with the right head and just staying grounded in my faith.
But also uh, you know, like I said earlier, like
leaning on the older guys, like they've been here for
a while. They know they've been through what I'm about
to go through, they know how it is. And also
(02:33):
like the other rookies, like this is all of our
all of our first time so uh, just trying to
figure it out together. And also just you know, like
I'm a rookie. You know, I'm a It's okay to
be a rookie, and I understand that, and I think
I want to give myself that grace. But also I
still have hot standards for myself because I know the
expectations that are have been set. So just really trying
(02:54):
to find a good balance within that, within that process.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Does it help that you were an instant starter at Georgia.
You like you're used to this kind of quick turnaround.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And it's funny because like it's it's actually very similar
uh to when I when I got to University of Georgia.
Just like the depth that was in the room, and
you know, the this season that they're coming off of,
just like the expectations, you know.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
And I think.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
My freshman year at Georgia and then how I took
it from my freshman year, sophomore year, junior year. I
think it really allowed me to have a outlook on
different things, uh so to speak, uh, coming into a
different place, just being adaptable. And I think it's been
a huge help. And I think it's been a huge
up here so far. And I think I just want
to keep learning all that experience.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So you had an interception your first college game as
an immediate start, So can you guarantee it's an interception
in Buffalo question?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I said it, you know, I said. A few weeks ago,
somebody somebody asked me who I wanted.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
To pick off.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I said, Josh Allen first game. So it's it's it's coming.
I'm working on.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
What when you look ahead and you think think about
like that first game and suiting up, uh for an
NFL game for the first time, Like, what are the
thoughts that come to mind for you knowing that you're
gonna be taking the field for an NFL game the
first time in Buffalo? A lot of that comes with that.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, I think I think just going back and looking
at the history, I think I spent a lot of time,
like looking last year all tape obviously, but just you know,
Buffalo being being the game last year, I think I
spent a lot of time on that, and also just
speaking to the guys and like what that game's, what
it means for the guys around the building. I wasn't there,
(04:32):
but I can feel it when they speak, like when
when coach or talks like I can I.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Can feel it.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Uh So just really I'm excited because I know, like
what it means to a lot of other guys here.
But it's also my first game as well, and you know,
I want to you know, showcase my talents, but also
you know, just being in the best position to help
the team win.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
So you went back and you watched the Ravens Buffalo
game from the playoff las year. Obviously weren't even on
the team. But you've spent time watching that since you've been.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, because I mean, like I watched it on TV,
but it's different watching it like through tape, so just
and a lot of it came through, just like trying
to learn like the plays that they're putting in. But
then like as I was doing it, I was like, Okay,
let me go study a little bit, like a little
bit here, a little bit there. So I went back
and I watched it, watch the actual tape, but also
watched the game as well.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I'm curious what the vibe is like in that room
you talk about talking to some of the veterans and
hear from Koch or about what it was like. I
mean in the secondary in particular, there's five first round
picks in that room.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
Yeah, what is that vibe?
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Like?
Speaker 4 (05:35):
It's it's very low.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Key, like like all of the guys are like awesome,
you know, like I seriously don't think there's a better
place for anybody to be here. And the vets in
the room, I mean, they they're what you would want
a vet to be. And I think a lot of
guys I had it when I came into University of
Georgia too, like you come into like place like Baltimore,
(05:58):
place like Georgia or whatever with like guys who are
like at a very high level. You're thinking, oh, man,
like I'm a meet a guy with a big ego
or whatever, you know, And I walk in and like
everybody's cool, Like everybody's very chill, And I think makes
it easier for like the younger guys to like.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Really lean in and learn.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
And when you have guys in a room that are
like just vets, you know, and like what you think
of vets should be, I think, uh, it makes it
makes our life a little easier. But then it also
helps them as well.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
It seems like the bar has been set like really
high within your defensive meeting rooms, especially with all the
talent that you have in that secondary Like when you
look around and see so many other talented players, like,
what is that kind of how you're framing this season?
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Yeah? I think I think.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
At the end of the day, you know, where there
in football in life, you compete, you know, and when
you're around a bunch of elite guys, it just raises
that competitiveness. And I think when you look in our room,
like you just see it like everybody's elite at what
they do and can be elite at things that they
want to do, and I think it just raises your
(07:08):
level of wanting to be competitive and wanting to be
elite as well.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
That guy.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I remember at the Combine talking with you during your
press conference, and obviously there's a big crowd around you,
and there was there was speculation that you could end
up here in Baltimore. And I actually remember asking you
about players that you look at in the NFL, and
you talked about Kyle Hamilton, the versatility and and all
that he does to affect the game. Now that you're
playing alongside him, What what are your thoughts about that?
(07:36):
And is it kind of as advertised? Is it what
you expected it to be?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Like, Yeah, I mean it's there's like there's levels to
this thing, you know. I Mean, he's he's at the
top of the top. And I think it's crazy because
like I've literally watched all of his tape, Like us,
I trained the Temple with John Gruden and we spent
a lot of time watching his tape and he's actually
(08:01):
John he told me that Baltimore is gonna give me.
He's like, they're gonna come get you. And we spent
a lot of time watching his tape in just the
see the way that he like moves on tape and
then like to just learn from m in person and
just kind of see it. It's like it's crazy because
like he, like I said, he's at the top, and
I think just his knowledge and the way that he
(08:24):
goes about the game, I mean, it's it's different than
most guys, you know, and I'm very blessed to just
be able to get to learn from that, and you know,
the other guys in the room as well. I think
our room is very deep from from him to everybody,
and I think just being able to come into a
room like that and learn really just took up all
the knowledge I can from everybody.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
It's been awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
You're both kind of Swiss army knives. You know, you
can play anywhere. How do you see you two kind
of complimenting each other and playing off of each other.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Yeah, I think I think, you know, whatever he wants
to do, I'll do the opposite. Like I'll just whatever
whatever I need to be. I think that's what it is.
You know, Like he he he's been in the system
for a while, like he he really knows the defense.
He's very smart, and you know he can do he
(09:19):
can literally do whatever like you watch on tape and
he's everywhere. And I think I have that ability and
me being able to learn as much as I can
will help me get to that point.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
So really, just you know, I.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Think, uh, you know, if he wants to be in
the box, having me deep in the field will allow
him to be that more. If it wants to be
a vice versa he wants to be in the middle,
I can go down and rotate, so like it'll free
both of us up as well. So really, you know,
whatever whatever he says he wants to do, I'll do
the opposite.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
Whatever they tell me to do, you know, I'll do it.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
So is there is there like kind of a communication
and a feel aspect that has to come along with that,
Like you have to get a sense for what he's
going to do. Of course, you're gonna like you're gonna
play the def you're gonna play the plays. But even
within that, there's decision making that has to be made,
like talk to me about that. Just getting a feel
for what he's going to do and how you guys
play off of each other.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Yeah, I think, you know, it's different.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
You know, like you spend spend three years playing with
somebody else, like you really get to pick up and
like you know what they do and how they move,
and then like you move and you're playing with somebody
else new right off the bat, and it's a little different.
But I think, you know, being here and me being
able to get those reps with him really allowed me
to like really understand like how he moves and like
(10:33):
just me being to ask some questions like hey, like
before they.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Do this, like what are you thinking? Like what do
you what do you want to show here? What are
you thinking?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
And then like after okay, like what are you looking at?
Like like tell me what your thought process is? So
like I know, but I was like, so I can
learn from you, but also I know like what you're
thinking as well, and I think like he does a
really good job of like hey, like like the last day,
like he came up to me with the iPad during
practice and he was like, hey, like when again in
this formation I'm showing so like we can we can
(11:01):
rotate off each other, and then like when this happens,
like you don't have to be so deep because you
have your corner and your linebacker, like things that I
like I knew, but like with the defense, I'm still learning.
So I wasn't aware and he came to me, He's like, hey,
like this is this is this can help you. And
I think us being able to just have that communication
and me being able just to watch I think me
(11:22):
still watching his tape, like just seeing how he moves
and just talking to him and really just building that relationship.
I think it's gonna be it's gonna be huge.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
You talked about watching a lot of film already. I
would imagine that probably even during training camp, it's gonna
hit another another level.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
Honestly, Like take me through.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
You know, you're done practice, you're done for the day,
you have dinner, you go back, Like is it jump
into the iPad until what a clock for you?
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yeah? I think I think there has to be like
a really good balance, you know. I think it's I
think it's different for everybody, but it's also different for
different scenarios. Like if we go through an install and
I really don't under understand the install, Like I may
spend like hour to three and a half to four
hours looking over the install, but if I really understand it,
(12:07):
I might spend an hour to hour and a half
or whatever the case may be. But I think there
has to be a good balance for everybody. So, like,
when I get home, minimum, I'm doing an hour. H Like,
I'm take my notes for a day, I rewrite my notes,
and then I look over the install again and I
watch the videos and then I like walk it out
myself in the room, Like I'll get water bottles or whatever,
(12:30):
and I'll move them around where I like, I'll speak
it out in my room by myself to really just
kind of go through it again. And I think, you know,
once I understand it, I stopped. So like however long
that really takes, I mean it takes, but most of
the timas you know, it's sitting that hour to two
and a half to three window.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
We heard the report that you were conducting walkthroughs with
your rookie teammates during rookie mini camp at the team hotel,
which I'd honestly never heard that happen before. Can you
take us behind season that how that started?
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, So, like so like I knew some of the guys.
I think it was like the second day, maybe I
was downstairs, and I just brought my pack because I
didn't want to be in my room. I was tired, so.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
If I did in my room, IE was gonna lay down.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
So I went to the lobby and I sat down,
and then one other guys came down, so I texted
another guy was like, hey, we're down here, you want
to come down here. I ended up being like five
of us that day, and then I was like, there's
a ballroom back there, and I was like, I wonder
if they're using it. So like one of the guys
to go up, he's like, hey, a y'all using the ballroom.
They're like, no, what do you need the ballroom for?
(13:36):
And he was like, oh, we were just asking. We're
just asking. So like the next day we come back
and there's there's more of us. There's like seven or whatever.
So walk Away were like, hey, do you mind if
we used the ballroom? Like we'll put the chairs back
wherever they were at tables, like we'll set it all
back to where it was, but can we just use
it for like thirty minutes? So we all go in
there and we're just like we're helping each other, you know,
(13:56):
like we're learning together. Like we're moving, we're moving chairs
on the tables and making calls and stuff, and I
think it was a collective effort and I think it
just speaks to a lot of guys, like their mentality
just you know, coming in this year and you know
what we want to be at.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Cool did it just seem like leadership is something that
is part of what this is kind of what we're
talking about here, Like leadership is part of what we
all heard before you got here that that was part
of who you are and how you approach the game,
And then you're here at working mini camp and you're
running walkthroughs in the ballroom, Like that's just there's not
many guys that do that. Is that responsibility of leadership
(14:32):
something that really matters to you?
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I think it's something that I've just always seen, Like
I think, you know, my dad's the best leader I've
ever seen in my life. And I think, you know
that's that's very biased, but like just the things that
we've been through and just the way that I see
him move. You know, he's not perfect, but I think
he he's the perfect dad to me. And I think
(14:56):
just the way to watch him move and the way
that he was a leader, and I think I think
I wanted to be that in my own way, and
I think I really figured.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
That out in high school.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
But when I got to college, I think, you really,
you really have to figure out how to follow the
right people before you could lead. And I think I
followed the right people to allow me to take pieces
of what they do and put it in my own bucket,
so I'm able to pull things but still be myself.
And I think, you know, I think I just I
(15:29):
want to do that here too. You know, like we
have a great group of guys, as I was talking
about earlier, and you know, like I understand like what
it means to come into a place that already has
guys established and kind of maneuver around that. And I'm
not worried about being the best leader because we have
a bunch of leaders. I'm worried about being the best
(15:50):
version of myself and leading the guys that I can.
And eventually I'll grow in that role. But it's not
something I'm like, oh, like, if I don't jump into
it now, I'll never get to it. You know, I
understand that it takes time, and I'm also I still
gotta learn, like this is a new place, this is
a new system, new culture. Like things are different here
than other places. So I'm still learning as well. So
(16:10):
like I can't I can't come out here and you know,
yell at people whatever. And I'm still learning myself. And
I think that's something you also have to take account,
Like you can't ever ask somebody to do something you
wouldn't do yourself. I mean, I think, you know, just
coming here and learning, I think it's very natural, and
I think it's going to take time.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
What was it about your dad as a leader that
really inspired you?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Yeah, I think he Uh, I just I just never
saw him stop working, Like even when we didn't have anything,
Like he literally was always working. I think there was
a period of time where like I saw my dad
from like maybe like an hour day maybe and then
he'd go back to work day ships that night shift.
So just like just the way he like he handled
(16:52):
his business around people and the way he worked and
like it's weird, like he was always competing like with life,
and I think that's like where my competitive spirit comes from.
But also just like the people that he was able
to like bring along with him, uh, even when we
didn't have anything like he was bringing people along with
him and you know whatever. And I think that really
(17:15):
I saw that, and like I'm just wanted to grab
a hold to it and just kind of have something
like of that of my own.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
What in your mind makes a good leader.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
I think.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I think somebody that's true to their self, that doesn't
compromise their self for anything or anyone. And I think
somebody who uh, you know, stays grounded, but also like
can can point stuff out but can take it as well.
I think I think if you're a hypocrite, a hypocrite, you.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Can't be a leader.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
I think those two don't mess together. And I think
guys who can really really be in both buckets who
can call stuff out, see something, say something, say something
to see something, and then also when that gets done
to you, you can take it and flip it and
work on it like there's no like bickering or whatever.
(18:09):
Being coachable. I think that's that's huge and guds with respect,
you know, like you got to earn that role. You
gotta do things the right way.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
You gotta not.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Just be a great football player, you gotta be a
great person. Like you gotta live right on and off
the field for gods to really respect you. And I
think when you look at that, we got a bunch
of guys in this building who who have that, And
I'm just super excited to learn from those guys.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
I think it's crazy that you're like half my age.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
It's just like, you know, just being.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
Around you, he's a pretty more mature Tell what's something
that reminds that will remind me and our listeners that
you're like half my age?
Speaker 5 (18:51):
All right? Like tell me something, Well, what you were
you born.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Two thousand and three?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I know that, Like when you hear it out loud,
it's like, what yard you graduate.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
High school in two thousand and two? I can barely remember?
Oh God, Like all right, what's like like something that
a hobby of yours that will be like, all right,
this guy's twenty one years old, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (19:14):
I like the FaceTime my dog like all right, because
like he's still he lives at home. So I'll call
my fiancees dad and like my dog like he understands FaceTime.
So like when it rings, yeah, he'll like run to
the phone and like when I answer, like he'll turn
his head. Yeah, Like I'll talk to him and he'll
like just kind of whatever, but really, like I don't
(19:39):
I still watch Disney Channel.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
All right, that works.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
I was about to say, if that helps.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Still, it's just so crazy, Like, have you always felt
like that you were older and more mature than the
other kids around you.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
I think it played a role, like me having to
grow up pretty fast. Yeah, I think it changed the
way that I saw things like in life about also
like not always having a lot made me like really
appreciate and understand like the little things in life. But
I think, yeah, I've always kind of felt like I
was a little bit more mature than like my age group.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
I'd say, yeah, but I think I think it's a
good thing.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
I think, uh, you know, like people say, like I
miss out on a lot of stuff, but I don't
feel like I'm missing out. Like I love my life,
you know, so I'm I'm very happy about, you know,
the way I handle my business.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
You mentioned a couple of times you feel like you
had to grow up fast. Why do you feel that way?
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Yeah, I think at an early age, I lost my
cousin he thought of a homicideal suicide, and then also
just we were homeless twice growing up you know, so
I didn't really have.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
I didn't really have a lot. I had. I had enough, you.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Know, but it's not got to go in the store
and want something and leave with it, you know. But
also I had a really great group of like friends
around me, but everybody life was like different, you know,
so like I'd see things and like I'd understand, like okay,
like we're not there yet, and I get it, you know.
And I think also just like my faith has been
(21:16):
like really huge. I think at my early age when
I lost my cousin, like I struggled with my faith. Uh,
Like my my dad was my dad's deacon at the church,
my mom's gonna choir, me and my sister were in
church every Sunday. And then at an early age, like
when that happened, I like I had a lot of
(21:37):
anger and had a lot of confusion, and I was
lost in my faith. And I think as I got older,
I think maybe like maybe it took like two years,
so I was like nine or ten maybe around that time.
I think, uh, we were in church and it just
(21:58):
hit me, you know, and then like I really just
you know, I really just sat there and had my
time with God and talked and then like talked with
my parents, and I think like me growing in my
faith also like kind of helped me mature as a
person very early, and I think, you know, it was
the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
You're really an open book. Like this conversation, I commend
you for just being you know, it's open and talking
about kind of hard things and challenging things that you've
experienced in your life, which is I think speaks to
that maturity that we're talking about what allows you to
be kind of an open book in that sense.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
I think I think I've spent so much time like
holding it in, you know, Like I think like it's
like some of my best friends, like to this day,
who we're gonna be at my wedding, Like they didn't
even know any of this stuff about me in high school.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
And then like.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
It hit me, I was like, nobody really knows anything
about me. Like people know I'm good at sports, people
know like I'm a will chill God. Like nobody really
knows anything about me.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
And then.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
As I got the cause, I kept growing more in
my faith and then like I got to a point
where like it was okay for like, I feel like
it was okay for me to let myself express, you know,
like my life and who I am and what's been
happening or whatever the case may be. I thought that,
like I was very comfortable with myself. I didn't really
(23:27):
care about others opinions and you know what it might be.
And I think once I got to that point, I
was I was ready to go.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
You were seven years old when you lost your cousin,
wasn't it, yes? And and you mentioned that you were
home was during it was around that time from what
I understand, right, can you just take us back to
that time and what was happening then? Like what what
does that life look like for you? You know, it's
just finding temporary housing or whatnot.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Yeah, I think it was crazy.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Like the the day before where my cousin passed away,
he was at my house. We're outside playing football wherever,
running around, playing freez tag whatever, and we're actually supposed
to go to Phanopolis the next day. And then I
kept asking my dad, was like, hey, can I can't
go spend a night, can't go spend night at his
house or whatever?
Speaker 4 (24:15):
My dad kept saying no, And I was.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
So mad, so mad, we woke up, parents went to work,
dropped me off at my grandmas, went to work, Grandma
got a call. Everything that happened, and then like I
spent so much time being angry at my dad for
not letting me go, and then it's like, you know,
I believe everything happens for a reason, and.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
That helped me in my faith as well.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Uh, just having that talk with him and just realizing
that like I don't know and he doesn't know, like
why he said no, Like but like if he didn't,
maybe I wouldn't be here. Maybe things could it turn
out differently. Who knows, But I think that was that
was huge. And then also just being homeless, like the
(25:06):
first time we live with my aunt, the second time
we live with a family friend, and just really you know,
just figuring it out as a family. I think we
grew very close during that time. And I think just
watching my parents work and watching how they handled everything, uh,
did a lot for me and my sister. Right.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Yeah, I mean that you'll grow up fast right that
way for sure?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (25:29):
How did how did all that pull your family together?
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Yeah? I think.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I think it's interesting because like it's kind of like
it's kind of like the conditioning tests, you know, like
like when you're going through like a really sucky time
with a group of people, like it has no choice.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
Either tells your party, it grows you together, you know.
And I think.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
My family being so deep in their faith, it also
helped as well, just really like leaning on each other,
you know, and just kind of realizing that, like God
won't put us to anything that he can't get us through,
and you know, what we are today doesn't mean we're
going to be stuck here for the rest of our life,
and just really figuring it out from there, but also
(26:15):
just enjoying it still, like me and my sister, like
we were still outside playing basketball at basketball goal somewhere
or whatever, but just like really just enjoying life and
just really still trying to make memories and the best
out of the situation.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
So when you when you come through all that and
then you get you get drafted and you play at
Georgia obviously you played at a high super you know,
big time program, and then you get drafted. When you're
thinking about like the emotions of draft night, are you
thinking about this whole journey up to this point.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Yes, and no, like it, like it it's weird because
like I feel like my mom is like on a
constant go like even on Draft night, Like Draft night
was like probably one of the most interesting nights for
me ever because I didn't know, like my arrange was
so wide, like I could have went really earlier. I
could have went second round. You know, I wasn't sure.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
It's been crazy.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Yeah, I mean I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
You know. I took the whole days like it's gonna
be what it's gonna be, and whatever it is, I'm
gonna make the most out of it, you know. And
like we were sitting there and I remember I brought
Uno because I was like, I love.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
You know, It's like it's like my favorite thing. I
guess that's another thing.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Yeah, yeah, you gotta try attack you No, by the way,
if you haven't played attacking my kids.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
Figure you know what that is. We're gonna talk.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Yeah. Yeah, So like I didn't know, so like I brought,
you know, and then like like for like the up
until like pick thirteen we're playing, you know, then I
sat down whatever, and then uh it's funny. Uh the
Falcons trading back in at twenty six, my fiance and
(27:52):
my mom looked at me and they're like and I
was like, it's probably not gonna happen. There's a good
chance to I know who they I know who they need.
Probably not happen. I get up to go grab no cars.
I'm like, I'm bored, like if I won't have it
wrong all night, like I'm watching everybody like I'm happy
because like most of my best friends are like getting
there like dream or whatever. So I'm happy, but I'm bored.
(28:12):
So I'm like, I'm about to go grab no cars.
Like I get up, I'm about to get up to
go grab no cars, and my phone starts ringing and
I'm like, for a second, I forget where I was at.
I was like, I guess I was like nervous, Like
for a second, I was like, I'm not going to
as I was like whoa.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Yeah, I was like, I was like, whoa, don't do that,
don't do that.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
I'll look at the phone. It's Eric and uh It's
like I don't even know. Like the the emotions were
like crazy. It was like a feeling I never felt before.
But I think I was just so ready, like and
I told him like I was just ready to get here,
like I was ready to get to work, and like
I think, like in that moment right now, like I
(28:55):
was and I am, you know, like I was sitting
in there all night, like I was watching like whatever
teams passed me whatever, and I was like, whoever grass me,
Like they're going to get the best version of me,
like ever, And I think you know that that call
changed my life. And you know, I want to say
he has no idea, but he does, but like he
like truly doesn't have understanding, like how much that call
(29:16):
meant for me?
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Well, I don't want to tee my awn horn, but
I did say I called it in February that you
were coming to the Ravens. Like, so we make our
mock draft picks, right every year, we pick every all
seven rounds we think the Ravens are gonna take. And
I said in February, I was like, Malachi Starks is
my guy. I'm playing my flag.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
So I knew it. You just didn't know.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
And I saw like I saw a bunch of stuff
and like I saw like ball, Like towards the end
of it, I kept seeing Baltimore as Baltimore's Baltimore and
like at the at the beginning. I didn't see that,
and like I talked to him, want to come by,
and that was it. So I was like, there's a possibility,
but like they don't even really like they don't really
even like really know me, like they have they don't,
(29:58):
they don't, they don't have no interest to me. Yeah,
and then my combine interview went very well and then
you know, I guess the rest was history.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
But no, it's been. It's been awesome, it really has.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
It's kind of crazy because I was there was so
much smoke around the rave was drafting you and typically
speaking like you haven't probably paid attention to this, but
Eric he is a tough guy to read just in general, Okay,
so he doesn't want any information getting out right, and
so the fact that there was so much smoke around you,
I was like, they must not want him because there's.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
So much there's so much smoke, and of course they did.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
I think they just couldn't hide it. Everybody knew that
they might be interested in you and just the fit
on all that stuff. So it's kind of interesting, like
you weren't you were kind of thinking almost in the
way that I was at the end, that you're like
they only talked to me one time. That doesn't seem
like that's going to be the right fit.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Right, And I like I knew like it was a possibility,
but I was like I was talking to so many other.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
People, who do you think you were gonna get it too?
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Then I thought, I thought there was a few places.
I thought I could either end up in uh in Miami.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
I heard that.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
I did too.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
I thought I could end up in Atlanta. I heard Seahawks,
I heard I heard Tampa. And it's funny because after
after Ericar called me, my agent showed me a text
and the Chiefs were about to like if he didn't
get me, the Chiefs were going to get me. So
(31:28):
so that was another possibility. So like I really didn't know,
like it was my range was so wide. But I
was like, man, like I would love to go there,
but they've only talked to me once, like they don't
want me, like they it's not gonna happen. And like, uh,
I remember John, like I remember Grewden, Like he was like,
(31:48):
Waltimore is gonna get you. Waltimore And I was like,
you don't know what he's talking about.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
Had a good.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
We did. We did but it's truly a blessing. It
really is.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Well, I think that I knew it because you check
so many boxes. You check practically every boxer is except
for too. Okay, so well number one.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
Number one, you.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
Don't really like picking crabs. I found that out a
few weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Okay, so it's not even it's not the fact that
like I don't like picking crabs.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
I just feel like.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
I'm also I'm very like I'm not lazy, like well,
I don't need to be active.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
I'm not active.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Okay, you're chilling right, like you're on your downtime. You
don't want to be putting that much effort into crabs.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
It's just like I feel like you put a lot
of effort and you don't get a lot of food
out of it. You know. It's like now, like if
somebody were like to like do all the work and
then lay the crab on the table.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
It's already picked for you.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Yeah, okay, but I just don't like the work. This
is too much, all right, all right?
Speaker 1 (32:52):
And number two, you're a Troy Palm oh guy. I
mean that's the only other parts. As a devoted guy
growing up who had many debates ed Troy just saying.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Okay, let me let me, let me, let me put
this out there. I think it is the best you
ever played a game. I don't disagree with that. Adults.
I think I grew up watching Troy. Yeah, like when
I went to the living room, like for some reason,
they were always on the TV. Like it's just like
(33:25):
the only game that like my parents were what everybody
was watching. And I think like the way that I
watched him like move.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Around and like trying was awesome, And I think I
think that's what it was.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
But I think, like, like I will stand on the
table like it is the best safety to ever played
the game.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Before the doubt totally redeemed.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
It's crazy because like I knew, I knew about like
the whole Pittsburgh thing and Baltimore, Like I knew about
it because like we had some guys that played at
Georgia that played at Pittsburgh or for some reason, like
it didn't really click. Like my first interview here the
media team was hilarious. My first interview here, they had
(34:10):
like these cards, right, and I had to read off
the cards or whatever, and I think you were you
and they were like, how do you feel about the
I was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan growing up or whatever,
and like it didn't hit me.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
Until I got here and I was like, oh no, dang,
I love you guys. I was a kid. I was
a kid.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Let let it go.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
You let it go. It was it was years ago.
Speaker 5 (34:34):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
I forgot to ask you one question, and speaking of
Ed and interceptions, because honestly, like part of the reason
why I thought you were going to become a Raven
is because when I watched your college tape and some
of these picks that you made, I was like, oh
my god, Like I was like, this reminds me of
my favorite player of all time growing up, Ed Reid, Right,
Like that's how I was like, this dude just meant
to be a rap. I'm just curious, like, do you
(34:57):
think that there's a chance that you are even more
productive as a playmaker ballhawk in the NFL than you
were in college or you had but six picks three years? Like,
do you think that like your game and especially if
you play more free safety, potentially it's supposed to moving
around all over the place that you did to Georgia,
right that like you could be even more productive as
(35:17):
a ballhok in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Yeah, I think, I think without a doubt, and I
think I love also like I had a good bit
of ball production, but I left a lot in college
as well. But I think it's different like here, Like
it's like really like how much knowledge do you have
about the game of football? Yeah, And I think me
being around a bunch of guys who are like great
(35:39):
at football, have a bunch of knowledge, and me being
able to want to learn, I think it's only going
to help. But also, like like the dimensions, like the
hass is six six yards and six inches, like it's
so much closer than it is in college, So like
my range will help me a lot. And I think
just being able to like pick up on the ten season,
(36:00):
pick up on like learn our defense and sign it out.
And I think that's going to help me a lot.
But I think I think for sure I have more
ball production. No, no, I did in college.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Awesome, All right, well, now that you've cleared all that up,
now you check every single Yeah, okay, cool.
Speaker 5 (36:15):
Well, thank you for joining us, Thank you, thank you
appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (36:18):
Man, thank you.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
Welcome back into the Lounge podcast. We are coming to
you from the Sikiek Studio. We want to mention our partners,
the Draft Kings sports Book. They are an official sports
betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King Sports Book.
The Crown is yours. Well, thank you to Malachi for
joining us. Every time I talk to him, I come
away more impressed, and that was the case again today.
I think that he obviously has a great head on
his shoulders. I think that is like the understatement of
(36:41):
the year. But he's he's really impressed me on the
field too, And just every time you talk to him,
I think I get a little bit more insight into
how he's wired, the work that he puts in the focus,
all that stuff, and I just think he's going to
be a really good fit for this team for a
long time.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
Yeah, he's he's an unusual rookie, Like you don't come
across many rookies that are just that mature, you know.
And I think he's also going to be an unusual
player in a very good way.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
Just a special dude.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
Like I like to hearing him say he went him
going back and watching the Buffalo game, like it's a
small thing, like but part of it's learning the defense,
but also part of it's like learning the history and
like what where this team has been in order to
get work to where they want to go. I think
he wants an understanding where this team has been, and
those are the types of things that I don't think
everybody does, but he's doing those little things and I
(37:34):
think it's going to pay dividends for him as a rookie.
Speaker 4 (37:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Well, getting the rookies together for a walk through in
the you know, ballroom at the hotel speaks for itself. Yeah, yeah,
so really exciting.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
We're doing the water bottle assignments in your hotel room.
Speaker 5 (37:47):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
It's a little easier when you have other players, I
guess for the full walk through the water bottles. But
I think all that, all of that just tells you
a little bit about who he is and I'm excited
to see what he can do this year. So now
as we talk about that, it's interesting that the one
thing we get more commentary about than anything related to
what's going on in the football field is whenever we
(38:09):
do a draft. Yep, we did it draft recently, we
did a fruit draft. We drafted a whole bunch of
different fruit and the results have come in from the listeners. Yep,
and it is a hotly contested no, it is very
hotly no bait here amongst the listeners in terms of
who won the Fruits raft. We had landside thousands of emails,
(38:30):
thousands of emails, and they are very much split as
to who won a draft.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
You cherry picked a couple literally, you picked cherries, and
you cherry picked a couple of emails here that are
on your side.
Speaker 5 (38:42):
But let me start with this one.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
This is this is an email that I didn't my
first email that I'm going to read here, and as always,
you can email us at the lounge at ravenst NFL
dot net. This isn't even one that has me as
the winner, but it was just a great email. The
subject line is ultimate Insult, Ultimate Teas for the AFC North.
So I was surprised to see an episode titled Big
Us Remaining Questions Entering Training Camp, and even more surprised
that it was a fifty six minute episode. We don't
(39:05):
really have an hour's worth of big Questions, do we?
And so I thought about a Browns fan stumbling across
the title, thinking, wow, even the Ravens have an hour
worth of questions. Maybe a'll tune in and make me
feel better. Now, imagine this Browns fan clicks into the
episode with hopes of filling an emotional empty hole with
the Raven's biggest vulnerabilities. He quickly hears you both say
there aren't really that many questions. You start talking about
(39:27):
third or fourth string positions and maybe Malachai Starks having
some rookie assignments in his first game. By minute thirty,
you're considering the O line being a top five unit,
which are guaranteed. Lamar another MVP.
Speaker 5 (39:36):
What a tease. That's bad enough.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
But then to poor salt in the wound of this
Browns fan, the host start drafting fruits for twenty one minutes.
One host can't remember the draft order, the other one
is smirching watermelon. What a luxury an insult to hopeless
AFC rival fans. That's from Kai Diagner, So, Kai, thank
(39:58):
you very much for that email.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
All right, This one comes from Cameron McLoughlin. Cameron says,
longtime listener, first time emailer. I've thought about reaching out before,
but have never been compelled until I listened to this
fruit draft on my commute this morning. Overall, I thought
this was a pretty even draft. Yes, you each had
half of my top two, four, six, eight, and ten choices.
(40:20):
Both of you put together some very good combinations of
your picks. With that being said, the tiebreaker was undoubtedly
Ryan choosing mango with the sixth pick. Bonus points for
the mention of a mango lassie. Probably don't even know
what it is.
Speaker 5 (40:32):
Do you even know what a mango lassies?
Speaker 3 (40:35):
I do not know what. Wow, this man is so
uncold's unbelievable. It wasn't my pick. You took the mango,
so I don't know what.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
To worry about.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Go eat it an Indian restaurant, order the manga lassie
and you can thank me later, all right.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
Garrett had the.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
Most ignorant, inane take of the whole pod shortly after
when he said, who drinks mango juice?
Speaker 5 (40:53):
Only?
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Billions of people around the world carrot. Just because it's
not grown around you doesn't mean that it is fantastic.
In short, this was the version of the Ravens picking
Lamar Jackson at the end of the first round. Ryan
managed to take the best option on the board much
later than it should have been available. Well, Garrett perfectly
played the role of all the teams who passed on
Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
Well, that's one man's opinion here. We appreciate that email.
But Danillo writes, I'm very disappointed that watermelon, which I took,
by the way, the second best fruit after banana, so
I get banana and I got watermelon, was taken so low.
I'd have to give it to Garrett because he had both.
He had both of those. Mink hating on watermelon and
banana was the last straw your only good pick with strawberry.
Speaker 1 (41:34):
That's what I double doubt about watermelon, is like, it's
impossible to eat watermelon and come away with a clean shirt.
Speaker 5 (41:41):
So you eat watermelon? Did say that you're you're signing
up to look like a slob.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
You're just you're a mess, So I can't help the
fact that you're a mess.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
And if you do the whole bend over, you get
like the sticky fingers.
Speaker 5 (41:54):
There's just no good way to eat watermelon really clean.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
I'm with him, I'm with dmac here. I don't know
what your issue is with watermelon. It's great another one.
Just listen to the fruit draft. How is it possible
to be so dominated for me. It's an easy choice. Garrett,
you want yet again, even though Orange, Uh yeah, I
think you guys, I have to lose the next draft
just to keep Ryan continuing to draft. That's from Benjamin
(42:18):
in Sweden.
Speaker 5 (42:19):
So another one Swedish.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Swedish people don't know fruit.
Speaker 5 (42:24):
Yeah, yeah, that's right, that's what is coming up to Sweden.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Look, this is this isn't just because I have Norwegian
relatives in Norway and Sweden bitter rivals.
Speaker 4 (42:34):
But Sweden.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
I'm sorry, this is this is this is.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
The best email, uh that you know in your favor
says I'll be bl I'll be honest here, I'll be
blunt as a dedicated and avid listener. You both deserve
to lose. That's the best case, best case for you.
He said, you didn't crelude the best fruit of all
the avocado. This is from Pierre.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
That was that was a common point and emails that
we got, which I agree with. Hey, I didn't even
know that, Like, okay, technically avocado is a fruit right now,
if avocado was on the list very high on my board,
Alvacada say it past.
Speaker 5 (43:13):
Yes, but it just feels like so it should be
a different category. Yeah, more savory. Yeah, I agree. All right,
here's the same with tomatoes. Like tomatoes a.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Fruit, right, that's hotly debated.
Speaker 5 (43:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
This email comes from Ky Frasier, London Ravens fan. He says, hey, guys,
I never laughed so much in a draft, so I'm
glad that we can provide some entertainment for you. When
I when Garrett jumped the gun on strawberry and nearly
nearly had to pull over. If the best draft moment
of all banana first pick was crazy to me, I
still stand by banana first overall pick. Ryan absolutely killed
it in this draft. Mango so late was insane. A
(43:45):
lot of a lot of profits, a lot of a
lot of props. Also, Garrett's cherry pick was very good.
So good job Ryan, is what he says. So there
we go.
Speaker 1 (43:55):
Yeah, well there was one that was talking about the undrafted. Uh,
he's got a whole squad of undraft did fruits?
Speaker 3 (44:00):
Yeah, I think the tomato and the avocado and the
olive and all of Yeah, he had.
Speaker 5 (44:06):
A like stacked undrafted squad.
Speaker 3 (44:08):
Well, look, Ravens love undrafted prospects. So if you have
an undrafted list of fruits, that's a good thing as well.
True uh so again, as always, you can email us
at the lounge at Ravens dot NFL dot net. We
always love hearing from you. Thanks again to Malchi for
joining us and training campus year. Right as you just saw,
rookies around the building. Quarterbacks are in the building, and
the Vets report next week. The first full practice is
(44:29):
coming up next Wednesday, so stay tuned for that. We're
going to be bringing to bringing you all the coverage
throughout training camp. Thank you so much for watching and
for listening. We'll be back with you again soon.
Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink
here with Garrett Downing, and we are thrilled to sit
down with first round pick Malachi Starks. Thanks for joining us, Malachi,
thank you. And uh So I noticed this on you know,
as the rookies reported yesterday, you came back for training camp,
and I noticed that when you were walking in this
keen eye of mine, all right, I noticed that you
(00:26):
welcomed us to train camp. Like That's how nice a
guy you are, right, It's like we're welcoming you back
to training camp. You're like, hey, welcome, everybody, welcome, Welcome,
like just a nice guy.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So I figured that, like a lot of people spend
time like welcome us back, and nobody does it for
everybody else has been here. So it's nice TOI yeah,
it's nice to hear every once in a while.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
What add, what's what's going through your mind as you
return for training camp for your first one?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I'm excited. I think the break was very necessary. I
think a lot of guys came back in a very
good spirit and right of mind. I think today was
a really good day. I think a lot of guys
are just excited. You know, it's our first time. We
don't really know what to expect. So just really trying
to lean on the older guys with their knowledge and
you know, the the process that they've been through already
(01:13):
and try to go through that with them and you know,
have my own process as well.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
So as you look ahead to this rookie season, your
first training camp, what has you most excited?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Really Just to be in a new uniform. I think
I I've been in Georgia for so long. I grew
up thirty minutes from the University of Georgia and then
it felt like I was wearing red and black.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
For like forever.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So just to be in you know, purple and black
and you know, like really indulge in you know what
that means with the culture and the city and you know,
the building around here and everybody. I think, I'm excited
just to dive into a new process of my life.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
So there's no doubt that there's a lot on your plate.
You get drafted in the first round, there's see a
lot that comes with that. And then soon after that, unfortunately,
our Darius Washington gets hurt, he goes down, and so
you've been taking pretty much every first team reps it
is to day that you stepped on campus here. How
do you handle the responsibility that comes with all that.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, I think, uh just looking as it, you know,
as a privilege. I think that's what I asked for.
You know, when I signed up, I knew what I
was signing up for, and really just taking that on
with the right head and just staying grounded in my faith.
But also uh, you know, like I said earlier, like
leaning on the older guys, like they've been here for
a while. They know they've been through what I'm about
to go through, they know how it is. And also
(02:33):
like the other rookies, like this is all of our
all of our first time so uh, just trying to
figure it out together. And also just you know, like
I'm a rookie. You know, I'm a It's okay to
be a rookie, and I understand that, and I think
I want to give myself that grace. But also I
still have hot standards for myself because I know the
expectations that are have been set. So just really trying
(02:54):
to find a good balance within that, within that process.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Does it help that you were an instant starter at Georgia.
You like you're used to this kind of quick turnaround.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And it's funny because like it's it's actually very similar
uh to when I when I got to University of Georgia.
Just like the depth that was in the room, and
you know, the this season that they're coming off of,
just like the expectations, you know.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
And I think.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
My freshman year at Georgia and then how I took
it from my freshman year, sophomore year, junior year. I
think it really allowed me to have a outlook on
different things, uh so to speak, uh, coming into a
different place, just being adaptable. And I think it's been
a huge help. And I think it's been a huge
up here so far. And I think I just want
to keep learning all that experience.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So you had an interception your first college game as
an immediate start, So can you guarantee it's an interception
in Buffalo question?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I said it, you know, I said. A few weeks ago,
somebody somebody asked me who I wanted.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
To pick off.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I said, Josh Allen first game. So it's it's it's coming.
I'm working on.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
What when you look ahead and you think think about
like that first game and suiting up, uh for an
NFL game for the first time, Like, what are the
thoughts that come to mind for you knowing that you're
gonna be taking the field for an NFL game the
first time in Buffalo? A lot of that comes with that.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, I think I think just going back and looking
at the history, I think I spent a lot of time,
like looking last year all tape obviously, but just you know,
Buffalo being being the game last year, I think I
spent a lot of time on that, and also just
speaking to the guys and like what that game's, what
it means for the guys around the building. I wasn't there,
(04:32):
but I can feel it when they speak, like when
when coach or talks like I can I.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Can feel it.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Uh So just really I'm excited because I know, like
what it means to a lot of other guys here.
But it's also my first game as well, and you know,
I want to you know, showcase my talents, but also
you know, just being in the best position to help
the team win.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
So you went back and you watched the Ravens Buffalo
game from the playoff las year. Obviously weren't even on
the team. But you've spent time watching that since you've been.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, because I mean, like I watched it on TV,
but it's different watching it like through tape, so just
and a lot of it came through, just like trying
to learn like the plays that they're putting in. But
then like as I was doing it, I was like, Okay,
let me go study a little bit, like a little
bit here, a little bit there. So I went back
and I watched it, watch the actual tape, but also
watched the game as well.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I'm curious what the vibe is like in that room
you talk about talking to some of the veterans and
hear from Koch or about what it was like. I
mean in the secondary in particular, there's five first round
picks in that room.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
Yeah, what is that vibe?
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Like?
Speaker 4 (05:35):
It's it's very low.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Key, like like all of the guys are like awesome,
you know, like I seriously don't think there's a better
place for anybody to be here. And the vets in
the room, I mean, they they're what you would want
a vet to be. And I think a lot of
guys I had it when I came into University of
Georgia too, like you come into like place like Baltimore,
(05:58):
place like Georgia or whatever with like guys who are
like at a very high level. You're thinking, oh, man,
like I'm a meet a guy with a big ego
or whatever, you know, And I walk in and like
everybody's cool, Like everybody's very chill, And I think makes
it easier for like the younger guys to like.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Really lean in and learn.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
And when you have guys in a room that are
like just vets, you know, and like what you think
of vets should be, I think, uh, it makes it
makes our life a little easier. But then it also
helps them as well.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
It seems like the bar has been set like really
high within your defensive meeting rooms, especially with all the
talent that you have in that secondary Like when you
look around and see so many other talented players, like,
what is that kind of how you're framing this season?
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Yeah? I think I think.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
At the end of the day, you know, where there
in football in life, you compete, you know, and when
you're around a bunch of elite guys, it just raises
that competitiveness. And I think when you look in our room,
like you just see it like everybody's elite at what
they do and can be elite at things that they
want to do, and I think it just raises your
(07:08):
level of wanting to be competitive and wanting to be
elite as well.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
That guy.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I remember at the Combine talking with you during your
press conference, and obviously there's a big crowd around you,
and there was there was speculation that you could end
up here in Baltimore. And I actually remember asking you
about players that you look at in the NFL, and
you talked about Kyle Hamilton, the versatility and and all
that he does to affect the game. Now that you're
playing alongside him, What what are your thoughts about that?
(07:36):
And is it kind of as advertised? Is it what
you expected it to be?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Like, Yeah, I mean it's there's like there's levels to
this thing, you know. I Mean, he's he's at the
top of the top. And I think it's crazy because
like I've literally watched all of his tape, Like us,
I trained the Temple with John Gruden and we spent
a lot of time watching his tape and he's actually
(08:01):
John he told me that Baltimore is gonna give me.
He's like, they're gonna come get you. And we spent
a lot of time watching his tape in just the
see the way that he like moves on tape and
then like to just learn from m in person and
just kind of see it. It's like it's crazy because
like he, like I said, he's at the top, and
I think just his knowledge and the way that he
(08:24):
goes about the game, I mean, it's it's different than
most guys, you know, and I'm very blessed to just
be able to get to learn from that, and you know,
the other guys in the room as well. I think
our room is very deep from from him to everybody,
and I think just being able to come into a
room like that and learn really just took up all
the knowledge I can from everybody.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
It's been awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
You're both kind of Swiss army knives. You know, you
can play anywhere. How do you see you two kind
of complimenting each other and playing off of each other.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Yeah, I think I think, you know, whatever he wants
to do, I'll do the opposite. Like I'll just whatever
whatever I need to be. I think that's what it is.
You know, Like he he he's been in the system
for a while, like he he really knows the defense.
He's very smart, and you know he can do he
(09:19):
can literally do whatever like you watch on tape and
he's everywhere. And I think I have that ability and
me being able to learn as much as I can
will help me get to that point.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
So really, just you know, I.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Think, uh, you know, if he wants to be in
the box, having me deep in the field will allow
him to be that more. If it wants to be
a vice versa he wants to be in the middle,
I can go down and rotate, so like it'll free
both of us up as well. So really, you know,
whatever whatever he says he wants to do, I'll do
the opposite.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
Whatever they tell me to do, you know, I'll do it.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
So is there is there like kind of a communication
and a feel aspect that has to come along with that,
Like you have to get a sense for what he's
going to do. Of course, you're gonna like you're gonna
play the def you're gonna play the plays. But even
within that, there's decision making that has to be made,
like talk to me about that. Just getting a feel
for what he's going to do and how you guys
play off of each other.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Yeah, I think, you know, it's different.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
You know, like you spend spend three years playing with
somebody else, like you really get to pick up and
like you know what they do and how they move,
and then like you move and you're playing with somebody
else new right off the bat, and it's a little different.
But I think, you know, being here and me being
able to get those reps with him really allowed me
to like really understand like how he moves and like
(10:33):
just me being to ask some questions like hey, like
before they.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Do this, like what are you thinking? Like what do
you what do you want to show here? What are
you thinking?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
And then like after okay, like what are you looking at?
Like like tell me what your thought process is? So
like I know, but I was like, so I can
learn from you, but also I know like what you're
thinking as well, and I think like he does a
really good job of like hey, like like the last day,
like he came up to me with the iPad during
practice and he was like, hey, like when again in
this formation I'm showing so like we can we can
(11:01):
rotate off each other, and then like when this happens,
like you don't have to be so deep because you
have your corner and your linebacker, like things that I
like I knew, but like with the defense, I'm still learning.
So I wasn't aware and he came to me, He's like, hey,
like this is this is this can help you. And
I think us being able to just have that communication
and me being able just to watch I think me
(11:22):
still watching his tape, like just seeing how he moves
and just talking to him and really just building that relationship.
I think it's gonna be it's gonna be huge.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
You talked about watching a lot of film already. I
would imagine that probably even during training camp, it's gonna
hit another another level.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
Honestly, Like take me through.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
You know, you're done practice, you're done for the day,
you have dinner, you go back, Like is it jump
into the iPad until what a clock for you?
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yeah? I think I think there has to be like
a really good balance, you know. I think it's I
think it's different for everybody, but it's also different for
different scenarios. Like if we go through an install and
I really don't under understand the install, Like I may
spend like hour to three and a half to four
hours looking over the install, but if I really understand it,
(12:07):
I might spend an hour to hour and a half
or whatever the case may be. But I think there
has to be a good balance for everybody. So, like,
when I get home, minimum, I'm doing an hour. H Like,
I'm take my notes for a day, I rewrite my notes,
and then I look over the install again and I
watch the videos and then I like walk it out
myself in the room, Like I'll get water bottles or whatever,
(12:30):
and I'll move them around where I like, I'll speak
it out in my room by myself to really just
kind of go through it again. And I think, you know,
once I understand it, I stopped. So like however long
that really takes, I mean it takes, but most of
the timas you know, it's sitting that hour to two
and a half to three window.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
We heard the report that you were conducting walkthroughs with
your rookie teammates during rookie mini camp at the team hotel,
which I'd honestly never heard that happen before. Can you
take us behind season that how that started?
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, So, like so like I knew some of the guys.
I think it was like the second day, maybe I
was downstairs, and I just brought my pack because I
didn't want to be in my room. I was tired, so.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
If I did in my room, IE was gonna lay down.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
So I went to the lobby and I sat down,
and then one other guys came down, so I texted
another guy was like, hey, we're down here, you want
to come down here. I ended up being like five
of us that day, and then I was like, there's
a ballroom back there, and I was like, I wonder
if they're using it. So like one of the guys
to go up, he's like, hey, a y'all using the ballroom.
They're like, no, what do you need the ballroom for?
(13:36):
And he was like, oh, we were just asking. We're
just asking. So like the next day we come back
and there's there's more of us. There's like seven or whatever.
So walk Away were like, hey, do you mind if
we used the ballroom? Like we'll put the chairs back
wherever they were at tables, like we'll set it all
back to where it was, but can we just use
it for like thirty minutes? So we all go in
there and we're just like we're helping each other, you know,
(13:56):
like we're learning together. Like we're moving, we're moving chairs
on the tables and making calls and stuff, and I
think it was a collective effort and I think it
just speaks to a lot of guys, like their mentality
just you know, coming in this year and you know
what we want to be at.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Cool did it just seem like leadership is something that
is part of what this is kind of what we're
talking about here, Like leadership is part of what we
all heard before you got here that that was part
of who you are and how you approach the game,
And then you're here at working mini camp and you're
running walkthroughs in the ballroom, Like that's just there's not
many guys that do that. Is that responsibility of leadership
(14:32):
something that really matters to you?
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I think it's something that I've just always seen, Like
I think, you know, my dad's the best leader I've
ever seen in my life. And I think, you know
that's that's very biased, but like just the things that
we've been through and just the way that I see
him move. You know, he's not perfect, but I think
he he's the perfect dad to me. And I think
(14:56):
just the way to watch him move and the way
that he was a leader, and I think I think
I wanted to be that in my own way, and
I think I really figured.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
That out in high school.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
But when I got to college, I think, you really,
you really have to figure out how to follow the
right people before you could lead. And I think I
followed the right people to allow me to take pieces
of what they do and put it in my own bucket,
so I'm able to pull things but still be myself.
And I think, you know, I think I just I
(15:29):
want to do that here too. You know, like we
have a great group of guys, as I was talking
about earlier, and you know, like I understand like what
it means to come into a place that already has
guys established and kind of maneuver around that. And I'm
not worried about being the best leader because we have
a bunch of leaders. I'm worried about being the best
(15:50):
version of myself and leading the guys that I can.
And eventually I'll grow in that role. But it's not
something I'm like, oh, like, if I don't jump into
it now, I'll never get to it. You know, I
understand that it takes time, and I'm also I still
gotta learn, like this is a new place, this is
a new system, new culture. Like things are different here
than other places. So I'm still learning as well. So
(16:10):
like I can't I can't come out here and you know,
yell at people whatever. And I'm still learning myself. And
I think that's something you also have to take account,
Like you can't ever ask somebody to do something you
wouldn't do yourself. I mean, I think, you know, just
coming here and learning, I think it's very natural, and
I think it's going to take time.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
What was it about your dad as a leader that
really inspired you?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Yeah, I think he Uh, I just I just never
saw him stop working, Like even when we didn't have anything,
Like he literally was always working. I think there was
a period of time where like I saw my dad
from like maybe like an hour day maybe and then
he'd go back to work day ships that night shift.
So just like just the way he like he handled
(16:52):
his business around people and the way he worked and
like it's weird, like he was always competing like with life,
and I think that's like where my competitive spirit comes from.
But also just like the people that he was able
to like bring along with him, uh, even when we
didn't have anything like he was bringing people along with
him and you know whatever. And I think that really
(17:15):
I saw that, and like I'm just wanted to grab
a hold to it and just kind of have something
like of that of my own.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
What in your mind makes a good leader.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
I think.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I think somebody that's true to their self, that doesn't
compromise their self for anything or anyone. And I think
somebody who uh, you know, stays grounded, but also like
can can point stuff out but can take it as well.
I think I think if you're a hypocrite, a hypocrite, you.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Can't be a leader.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
I think those two don't mess together. And I think
guys who can really really be in both buckets who
can call stuff out, see something, say something, say something
to see something, and then also when that gets done
to you, you can take it and flip it and
work on it like there's no like bickering or whatever.
(18:09):
Being coachable. I think that's that's huge and guds with respect,
you know, like you got to earn that role. You
gotta do things the right way.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
You gotta not.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Just be a great football player, you gotta be a
great person. Like you gotta live right on and off
the field for gods to really respect you. And I
think when you look at that, we got a bunch
of guys in this building who who have that, And
I'm just super excited to learn from those guys.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
I think it's crazy that you're like half my age.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
It's just like, you know, just being.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
Around you, he's a pretty more mature Tell what's something
that reminds that will remind me and our listeners that
you're like half my age?
Speaker 5 (18:51):
All right? Like tell me something, Well, what you were
you born.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Two thousand and three?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I know that, Like when you hear it out loud,
it's like, what yard you graduate.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
High school in two thousand and two? I can barely remember?
Oh God, Like all right, what's like like something that
a hobby of yours that will be like, all right,
this guy's twenty one years old, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (19:14):
I like the FaceTime my dog like all right, because
like he's still he lives at home. So I'll call
my fiancees dad and like my dog like he understands FaceTime.
So like when it rings, yeah, he'll like run to
the phone and like when I answer, like he'll turn
his head. Yeah, Like I'll talk to him and he'll
like just kind of whatever, but really, like I don't
(19:39):
I still watch Disney Channel.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
All right, that works.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
I was about to say, if that helps.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Still, it's just so crazy, Like, have you always felt
like that you were older and more mature than the
other kids around you.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
I think it played a role, like me having to
grow up pretty fast. Yeah, I think it changed the
way that I saw things like in life about also
like not always having a lot made me like really
appreciate and understand like the little things in life. But
I think, yeah, I've always kind of felt like I
was a little bit more mature than like my age group.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
I'd say, yeah, but I think I think it's a
good thing.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
I think, uh, you know, like people say, like I
miss out on a lot of stuff, but I don't
feel like I'm missing out. Like I love my life,
you know, so I'm I'm very happy about, you know,
the way I handle my business.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
You mentioned a couple of times you feel like you
had to grow up fast. Why do you feel that way?
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Yeah, I think at an early age, I lost my
cousin he thought of a homicideal suicide, and then also
just we were homeless twice growing up you know, so
I didn't really have.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
I didn't really have a lot. I had. I had enough, you.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Know, but it's not got to go in the store
and want something and leave with it, you know. But
also I had a really great group of like friends
around me, but everybody life was like different, you know,
so like I'd see things and like I'd understand, like okay,
like we're not there yet, and I get it, you know.
And I think also just like my faith has been
(21:16):
like really huge. I think at my early age when
I lost my cousin, like I struggled with my faith. Uh,
Like my my dad was my dad's deacon at the church,
my mom's gonna choir, me and my sister were in
church every Sunday. And then at an early age, like
when that happened, I like I had a lot of
(21:37):
anger and had a lot of confusion, and I was
lost in my faith. And I think as I got older,
I think maybe like maybe it took like two years,
so I was like nine or ten maybe around that time.
I think, uh, we were in church and it just
(21:58):
hit me, you know, and then like I really just
you know, I really just sat there and had my
time with God and talked and then like talked with
my parents, and I think like me growing in my
faith also like kind of helped me mature as a
person very early, and I think, you know, it was
the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
You're really an open book. Like this conversation, I commend
you for just being you know, it's open and talking
about kind of hard things and challenging things that you've
experienced in your life, which is I think speaks to
that maturity that we're talking about what allows you to
be kind of an open book in that sense.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
I think I think I've spent so much time like
holding it in, you know, Like I think like it's
like some of my best friends, like to this day,
who we're gonna be at my wedding, Like they didn't
even know any of this stuff about me in high school.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
And then like.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
It hit me, I was like, nobody really knows anything
about me. Like people know I'm good at sports, people
know like I'm a will chill God. Like nobody really
knows anything about me.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
And then.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
As I got the cause, I kept growing more in
my faith and then like I got to a point
where like it was okay for like, I feel like
it was okay for me to let myself express, you know,
like my life and who I am and what's been
happening or whatever the case may be. I thought that,
like I was very comfortable with myself. I didn't really
(23:27):
care about others opinions and you know what it might be.
And I think once I got to that point, I
was I was ready to go.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
You were seven years old when you lost your cousin,
wasn't it, yes? And and you mentioned that you were
home was during it was around that time from what
I understand, right, can you just take us back to
that time and what was happening then? Like what what
does that life look like for you? You know, it's
just finding temporary housing or whatnot.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Yeah, I think it was crazy.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Like the the day before where my cousin passed away,
he was at my house. We're outside playing football wherever,
running around, playing freez tag whatever, and we're actually supposed
to go to Phanopolis the next day. And then I
kept asking my dad, was like, hey, can I can't
go spend a night, can't go spend night at his
house or whatever?
Speaker 4 (24:15):
My dad kept saying no, And I was.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
So mad, so mad, we woke up, parents went to work,
dropped me off at my grandmas, went to work, Grandma
got a call. Everything that happened, and then like I
spent so much time being angry at my dad for
not letting me go, and then it's like, you know,
I believe everything happens for a reason, and.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
That helped me in my faith as well.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Uh, just having that talk with him and just realizing
that like I don't know and he doesn't know, like
why he said no, Like but like if he didn't,
maybe I wouldn't be here. Maybe things could it turn
out differently. Who knows, But I think that was that
was huge. And then also just being homeless, like the
(25:06):
first time we live with my aunt, the second time
we live with a family friend, and just really you know,
just figuring it out as a family. I think we
grew very close during that time. And I think just
watching my parents work and watching how they handled everything, uh,
did a lot for me and my sister. Right.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Yeah, I mean that you'll grow up fast right that
way for sure?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (25:29):
How did how did all that pull your family together?
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Yeah? I think.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I think it's interesting because like it's kind of like
it's kind of like the conditioning tests, you know, like
like when you're going through like a really sucky time
with a group of people, like it has no choice.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
Either tells your party, it grows you together, you know.
And I think.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
My family being so deep in their faith, it also
helped as well, just really like leaning on each other,
you know, and just kind of realizing that, like God
won't put us to anything that he can't get us through,
and you know, what we are today doesn't mean we're
going to be stuck here for the rest of our life,
and just really figuring it out from there, but also
(26:15):
just enjoying it still, like me and my sister, like
we were still outside playing basketball at basketball goal somewhere
or whatever, but just like really just enjoying life and
just really still trying to make memories and the best
out of the situation.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
So when you when you come through all that and
then you get you get drafted and you play at
Georgia obviously you played at a high super you know,
big time program, and then you get drafted. When you're
thinking about like the emotions of draft night, are you
thinking about this whole journey up to this point.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Yes, and no, like it, like it it's weird because
like I feel like my mom is like on a
constant go like even on Draft night, Like Draft night
was like probably one of the most interesting nights for
me ever because I didn't know, like my arrange was
so wide, like I could have went really earlier. I
could have went second round. You know, I wasn't sure.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
It's been crazy.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Yeah, I mean I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
You know. I took the whole days like it's gonna
be what it's gonna be, and whatever it is, I'm
gonna make the most out of it, you know. And
like we were sitting there and I remember I brought
Uno because I was like, I love.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
You know, It's like it's like my favorite thing. I
guess that's another thing.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Yeah, yeah, you gotta try attack you No, by the way,
if you haven't played attacking my kids.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
Figure you know what that is. We're gonna talk.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Yeah. Yeah, So like I didn't know, so like I brought,
you know, and then like like for like the up
until like pick thirteen we're playing, you know, then I
sat down whatever, and then uh it's funny. Uh the
Falcons trading back in at twenty six, my fiance and
(27:52):
my mom looked at me and they're like and I
was like, it's probably not gonna happen. There's a good
chance to I know who they I know who they need.
Probably not happen. I get up to go grab no cars.
I'm like, I'm bored, like if I won't have it
wrong all night, like I'm watching everybody like I'm happy
because like most of my best friends are like getting
there like dream or whatever. So I'm happy, but I'm bored.
(28:12):
So I'm like, I'm about to go grab no cars.
Like I get up, I'm about to get up to
go grab no cars, and my phone starts ringing and
I'm like, for a second, I forget where I was at.
I was like, I guess I was like nervous, Like
for a second, I was like, I'm not going to
as I was like whoa.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Yeah, I was like, I was like, whoa, don't do that,
don't do that.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
I'll look at the phone. It's Eric and uh It's
like I don't even know. Like the the emotions were
like crazy. It was like a feeling I never felt before.
But I think I was just so ready, like and
I told him like I was just ready to get here,
like I was ready to get to work, and like
I think, like in that moment right now, like I
(28:55):
was and I am, you know, like I was sitting
in there all night, like I was watching like whatever
teams passed me whatever, and I was like, whoever grass me,
Like they're going to get the best version of me,
like ever, And I think you know that that call
changed my life. And you know, I want to say
he has no idea, but he does, but like he
like truly doesn't have understanding, like how much that call
(29:16):
meant for me?
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Well, I don't want to tee my awn horn, but
I did say I called it in February that you
were coming to the Ravens. Like, so we make our
mock draft picks, right every year, we pick every all
seven rounds we think the Ravens are gonna take. And
I said in February, I was like, Malachi Starks is
my guy. I'm playing my flag.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
So I knew it. You just didn't know.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
And I saw like I saw a bunch of stuff
and like I saw like ball, Like towards the end
of it, I kept seeing Baltimore as Baltimore's Baltimore and
like at the at the beginning. I didn't see that,
and like I talked to him, want to come by,
and that was it. So I was like, there's a possibility,
but like they don't even really like they don't really
even like really know me, like they have they don't,
(29:58):
they don't, they don't have no interest to me. Yeah,
and then my combine interview went very well and then
you know, I guess the rest was history.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
But no, it's been. It's been awesome, it really has.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
It's kind of crazy because I was there was so
much smoke around the rave was drafting you and typically
speaking like you haven't probably paid attention to this, but
Eric he is a tough guy to read just in general, Okay,
so he doesn't want any information getting out right, and
so the fact that there was so much smoke around you,
I was like, they must not want him because there's.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
So much there's so much smoke, and of course they did.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
I think they just couldn't hide it. Everybody knew that
they might be interested in you and just the fit
on all that stuff. So it's kind of interesting, like
you weren't you were kind of thinking almost in the
way that I was at the end, that you're like
they only talked to me one time. That doesn't seem
like that's going to be the right fit.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Right, And I like I knew like it was a possibility,
but I was like I was talking to so many other.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
People, who do you think you were gonna get it too?
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Then I thought, I thought there was a few places.
I thought I could either end up in uh in Miami.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
I heard that.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
I did too.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
I thought I could end up in Atlanta. I heard Seahawks,
I heard I heard Tampa. And it's funny because after
after Ericar called me, my agent showed me a text
and the Chiefs were about to like if he didn't
get me, the Chiefs were going to get me. So
(31:28):
so that was another possibility. So like I really didn't know,
like it was my range was so wide. But I
was like, man, like I would love to go there,
but they've only talked to me once, like they don't
want me, like they it's not gonna happen. And like, uh,
I remember John, like I remember Grewden, Like he was like,
(31:48):
Waltimore is gonna get you. Waltimore And I was like,
you don't know what he's talking about.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
Had a good.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
We did. We did but it's truly a blessing. It
really is.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Well, I think that I knew it because you check
so many boxes. You check practically every boxer is except
for too. Okay, so well number one.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
Number one, you.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
Don't really like picking crabs. I found that out a
few weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Okay, so it's not even it's not the fact that
like I don't like picking crabs.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
I just feel like.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
I'm also I'm very like I'm not lazy, like well,
I don't need to be active.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
I'm not active.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Okay, you're chilling right, like you're on your downtime. You
don't want to be putting that much effort into crabs.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
It's just like I feel like you put a lot
of effort and you don't get a lot of food
out of it. You know. It's like now, like if
somebody were like to like do all the work and
then lay the crab on the table.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
It's already picked for you.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Yeah, okay, but I just don't like the work. This
is too much, all right, all right?
Speaker 1 (32:52):
And number two, you're a Troy Palm oh guy. I
mean that's the only other parts. As a devoted guy
growing up who had many debates ed Troy just saying.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Okay, let me let me, let me, let me put
this out there. I think it is the best you
ever played a game. I don't disagree with that. Adults.
I think I grew up watching Troy. Yeah, like when
I went to the living room, like for some reason,
they were always on the TV. Like it's just like
(33:25):
the only game that like my parents were what everybody
was watching. And I think like the way that I
watched him like move.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Around and like trying was awesome, And I think I
think that's what it was.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
But I think, like, like I will stand on the
table like it is the best safety to ever played
the game.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Before the doubt totally redeemed.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
It's crazy because like I knew, I knew about like
the whole Pittsburgh thing and Baltimore, Like I knew about
it because like we had some guys that played at
Georgia that played at Pittsburgh or for some reason, like
it didn't really click. Like my first interview here the
media team was hilarious. My first interview here, they had
(34:10):
like these cards, right, and I had to read off
the cards or whatever, and I think you were you
and they were like, how do you feel about the
I was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan growing up or whatever,
and like it didn't hit me.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
Until I got here and I was like, oh no, dang,
I love you guys. I was a kid. I was
a kid.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Let let it go.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
You let it go. It was it was years ago.
Speaker 5 (34:34):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
I forgot to ask you one question, and speaking of
Ed and interceptions, because honestly, like part of the reason
why I thought you were going to become a Raven
is because when I watched your college tape and some
of these picks that you made, I was like, oh
my god, Like I was like, this reminds me of
my favorite player of all time growing up, Ed Reid, Right,
Like that's how I was like, this dude just meant
to be a rap. I'm just curious, like, do you
(34:57):
think that there's a chance that you are even more
productive as a playmaker ballhawk in the NFL than you
were in college or you had but six picks three years? Like,
do you think that like your game and especially if
you play more free safety, potentially it's supposed to moving
around all over the place that you did to Georgia,
right that like you could be even more productive as
(35:17):
a ballhok in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Yeah, I think, I think without a doubt, and I
think I love also like I had a good bit
of ball production, but I left a lot in college
as well. But I think it's different like here, Like
it's like really like how much knowledge do you have
about the game of football? Yeah, And I think me
being around a bunch of guys who are like great
(35:39):
at football, have a bunch of knowledge, and me being
able to want to learn, I think it's only going
to help. But also, like like the dimensions, like the
hass is six six yards and six inches, like it's
so much closer than it is in college, So like
my range will help me a lot. And I think
just being able to like pick up on the ten season,
(36:00):
pick up on like learn our defense and sign it out.
And I think that's going to help me a lot.
But I think I think for sure I have more
ball production. No, no, I did in college.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Awesome, All right, well, now that you've cleared all that up,
now you check every single Yeah, okay, cool.
Speaker 5 (36:15):
Well, thank you for joining us, Thank you, thank you
appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (36:18):
Man, thank you.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
Welcome back into the Lounge podcast. We are coming to
you from the Sikiek Studio. We want to mention our partners,
the Draft Kings sports Book. They are an official sports
betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King Sports Book.
The Crown is yours. Well, thank you to Malachi for
joining us. Every time I talk to him, I come
away more impressed, and that was the case again today.
I think that he obviously has a great head on
his shoulders. I think that is like the understatement of
(36:41):
the year. But he's he's really impressed me on the
field too, And just every time you talk to him,
I think I get a little bit more insight into
how he's wired, the work that he puts in the focus,
all that stuff, and I just think he's going to
be a really good fit for this team for a
long time.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
Yeah, he's he's an unusual rookie, Like you don't come
across many rookies that are just that mature, you know.
And I think he's also going to be an unusual
player in a very good way.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
Just a special dude.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
Like I like to hearing him say he went him
going back and watching the Buffalo game, like it's a
small thing, like but part of it's learning the defense,
but also part of it's like learning the history and
like what where this team has been in order to
get work to where they want to go. I think
he wants an understanding where this team has been, and
those are the types of things that I don't think
everybody does, but he's doing those little things and I
(37:34):
think it's going to pay dividends for him as a rookie.
Speaker 4 (37:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Well, getting the rookies together for a walk through in
the you know, ballroom at the hotel speaks for itself. Yeah, yeah,
so really exciting.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
We're doing the water bottle assignments in your hotel room.
Speaker 5 (37:47):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
It's a little easier when you have other players, I
guess for the full walk through the water bottles. But
I think all that, all of that just tells you
a little bit about who he is and I'm excited
to see what he can do this year. So now
as we talk about that, it's interesting that the one
thing we get more commentary about than anything related to
what's going on in the football field is whenever we
(38:09):
do a draft. Yep, we did it draft recently, we
did a fruit draft. We drafted a whole bunch of
different fruit and the results have come in from the listeners. Yep,
and it is a hotly contested no, it is very
hotly no bait here amongst the listeners in terms of
who won the Fruits raft. We had landside thousands of emails,
(38:30):
thousands of emails, and they are very much split as
to who won a draft.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
You cherry picked a couple literally, you picked cherries, and
you cherry picked a couple of emails here that are
on your side.
Speaker 5 (38:42):
But let me start with this one.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
This is this is an email that I didn't my
first email that I'm going to read here, and as always,
you can email us at the lounge at ravenst NFL
dot net. This isn't even one that has me as
the winner, but it was just a great email. The
subject line is ultimate Insult, Ultimate Teas for the AFC North.
So I was surprised to see an episode titled Big
Us Remaining Questions Entering Training Camp, and even more surprised
that it was a fifty six minute episode. We don't
(39:05):
really have an hour's worth of big Questions, do we?
And so I thought about a Browns fan stumbling across
the title, thinking, wow, even the Ravens have an hour
worth of questions. Maybe a'll tune in and make me
feel better. Now, imagine this Browns fan clicks into the
episode with hopes of filling an emotional empty hole with
the Raven's biggest vulnerabilities. He quickly hears you both say
there aren't really that many questions. You start talking about
(39:27):
third or fourth string positions and maybe Malachai Starks having
some rookie assignments in his first game. By minute thirty,
you're considering the O line being a top five unit,
which are guaranteed. Lamar another MVP.
Speaker 5 (39:36):
What a tease. That's bad enough.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
But then to poor salt in the wound of this
Browns fan, the host start drafting fruits for twenty one minutes.
One host can't remember the draft order, the other one
is smirching watermelon. What a luxury an insult to hopeless
AFC rival fans. That's from Kai Diagner, So, Kai, thank
(39:58):
you very much for that email.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
All right, This one comes from Cameron McLoughlin. Cameron says,
longtime listener, first time emailer. I've thought about reaching out before,
but have never been compelled until I listened to this
fruit draft on my commute this morning. Overall, I thought
this was a pretty even draft. Yes, you each had
half of my top two, four, six, eight, and ten choices.
(40:20):
Both of you put together some very good combinations of
your picks. With that being said, the tiebreaker was undoubtedly
Ryan choosing mango with the sixth pick. Bonus points for
the mention of a mango lassie. Probably don't even know
what it is.
Speaker 5 (40:32):
Do you even know what a mango lassies?
Speaker 3 (40:35):
I do not know what. Wow, this man is so
uncold's unbelievable. It wasn't my pick. You took the mango,
so I don't know what.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
To worry about.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Go eat it an Indian restaurant, order the manga lassie
and you can thank me later, all right.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
Garrett had the.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
Most ignorant, inane take of the whole pod shortly after
when he said, who drinks mango juice?
Speaker 5 (40:53):
Only?
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Billions of people around the world carrot. Just because it's
not grown around you doesn't mean that it is fantastic.
In short, this was the version of the Ravens picking
Lamar Jackson at the end of the first round. Ryan
managed to take the best option on the board much
later than it should have been available. Well, Garrett perfectly
played the role of all the teams who passed on
Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
Well, that's one man's opinion here. We appreciate that email.
But Danillo writes, I'm very disappointed that watermelon, which I took,
by the way, the second best fruit after banana, so
I get banana and I got watermelon, was taken so low.
I'd have to give it to Garrett because he had both.
He had both of those. Mink hating on watermelon and
banana was the last straw your only good pick with strawberry.
Speaker 1 (41:34):
That's what I double doubt about watermelon, is like, it's
impossible to eat watermelon and come away with a clean shirt.
Speaker 5 (41:41):
So you eat watermelon? Did say that you're you're signing
up to look like a slob.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
You're just you're a mess, So I can't help the
fact that you're a mess.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
And if you do the whole bend over, you get
like the sticky fingers.
Speaker 5 (41:54):
There's just no good way to eat watermelon really clean.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
I'm with him, I'm with dmac here. I don't know
what your issue is with watermelon. It's great another one.
Just listen to the fruit draft. How is it possible
to be so dominated for me. It's an easy choice. Garrett,
you want yet again, even though Orange, Uh yeah, I
think you guys, I have to lose the next draft
just to keep Ryan continuing to draft. That's from Benjamin
(42:18):
in Sweden.
Speaker 5 (42:19):
So another one Swedish.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Swedish people don't know fruit.
Speaker 5 (42:24):
Yeah, yeah, that's right, that's what is coming up to Sweden.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Look, this is this isn't just because I have Norwegian
relatives in Norway and Sweden bitter rivals.
Speaker 4 (42:34):
But Sweden.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
I'm sorry, this is this is this is.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
The best email, uh that you know in your favor
says I'll be bl I'll be honest here, I'll be
blunt as a dedicated and avid listener. You both deserve
to lose. That's the best case, best case for you.
He said, you didn't crelude the best fruit of all
the avocado. This is from Pierre.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
That was that was a common point and emails that
we got, which I agree with. Hey, I didn't even
know that, Like, okay, technically avocado is a fruit right now,
if avocado was on the list very high on my board,
Alvacada say it past.
Speaker 5 (43:13):
Yes, but it just feels like so it should be
a different category. Yeah, more savory. Yeah, I agree. All right,
here's the same with tomatoes. Like tomatoes a.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Fruit, right, that's hotly debated.
Speaker 5 (43:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
This email comes from Ky Frasier, London Ravens fan. He says, hey, guys,
I never laughed so much in a draft, so I'm
glad that we can provide some entertainment for you. When
I when Garrett jumped the gun on strawberry and nearly
nearly had to pull over. If the best draft moment
of all banana first pick was crazy to me, I
still stand by banana first overall pick. Ryan absolutely killed
it in this draft. Mango so late was insane. A
(43:45):
lot of a lot of profits, a lot of a
lot of props. Also, Garrett's cherry pick was very good.
So good job Ryan, is what he says. So there
we go.
Speaker 1 (43:55):
Yeah, well there was one that was talking about the undrafted. Uh,
he's got a whole squad of undraft did fruits?
Speaker 3 (44:00):
Yeah, I think the tomato and the avocado and the
olive and all of Yeah, he had.
Speaker 5 (44:06):
A like stacked undrafted squad.
Speaker 3 (44:08):
Well, look, Ravens love undrafted prospects. So if you have
an undrafted list of fruits, that's a good thing as well.
True uh so again, as always, you can email us
at the lounge at Ravens dot NFL dot net. We
always love hearing from you. Thanks again to Malchi for
joining us and training campus year. Right as you just saw,
rookies around the building. Quarterbacks are in the building, and
the Vets report next week. The first full practice is
(44:29):
coming up next Wednesday, so stay tuned for that. We're
going to be bringing to bringing you all the coverage
throughout training camp. Thank you so much for watching and
for listening. We'll be back with you again soon.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.