By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions have officially gone from underdogs to the hunted.
After a 15-win season in 2024, Detroit enters 2025 with a target on its back—and apparently, even some incoming rookies have them circled.
Rookie Dreams and Veteran Targets
On a recent appearance on Up & Adams with Kay Adams, Georgia’s Malaki Starks—widely regarded as the top safety prospect in this year’s draft—was asked which NFL quarterback he’d love to intercept.
His answer? None other than Lions QB Jared Goff.
“He’s like an elite of elite quarterback,” Starks told Adams. “Just being able to add that to my resume… some of the guys, the way they talk about him, I mean, that would be cool.”
That’s high praise—and a bold goal—from a rookie who hasn’t even been drafted yet. But considering Starks’ track record at Georgia, where he snagged six interceptions while anchoring one of the most dominant defenses in college football, he’s definitely not just talking the talk.
Why Goff?
It’s an interesting choice. Goff has quietly put together back-to-back strong seasons under center for the Lions. Sure, he’s thrown 12 interceptions in each of the past two seasons, but he’s also led Detroit to the top of the NFC North and deep into the playoffs. For a young defender like Starks, making a play against a quarterback like Goff is the kind of moment that could define a rookie year.
And let’s be real—every DB dreams of that first big pick. Make it against a Pro Bowler on a playoff-bound team? Even better.
Eyes on the Draft… and the Matchup
We won’t know where Starks will land until draft night, but wherever he ends up, you can bet he’ll be eyeing that Lions game on the schedule—if it’s there. And if he does get his shot at Goff, well, let’s just say that matchup just got a little more interesting.
Because when a rookie calls his shot before even suiting up, you know he’s coming in with confidence—and maybe just a little bit of that SEC swagger.
Tags: #MalakiStarks #JaredGoff #LionsNews #NFLDraft2025 #UpAndAdams