After winning 15 games during the 2024 NFL season, the Detroit Lions will be a team that goes into many matchups during the 2025 season with a target on their back.
Their recent success will have plenty of teams circling matchups against them on their counter.
It turns out the matchup could be of particular interest to one incoming rookie if he winds up somewhere that he'll get a chance to play against the Lions this year.
During an April 14 appearance on Kay Adams' "Up & Adams", Georgia safety Malaki Starks was asked which quarterback he wants to intercept a pass from in the NFL.
His answer was Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
Starks told Adams, "Just talking to some of my teammates that used to play here who are in the league now. He’s like an elite of elite quarterback, so 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.”
Starks is the top safety prospect in this year's draft class and one of its best defensive prospects regardless of position.
He was able to consistently make an impact during his college career as part of a Georgia program that was always among the nation's best defenses.
That impact included six interceptions over his time as a Bulldog.
Meanwhile, Goff has thrown 12 interceptions in each of the past two seasons.
We won't know whether Starks will get his opportunity in 2025 until we hear his name called next week, but whenever he gets to play against Goff and the Lions, this matchup will be worth keeping an eye on.
