KJ Bolden S Georgia |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #4 ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/16/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.33 seconds (99%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #4 | |
| ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 09/16/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.33 seconds (99%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
87.4 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 51.7 | |
| Tackling: |
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95% |
| Run Defense: |
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92% |
| Coverage: |
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88% |
| Zone: |
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82% |
| Man/Press: |
|
85% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Mid
Overall Rank:
#16
Position rank:
#3 (DB)
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| College Games: 31 College Snaps: 1359 | ||
ESPN RATING: 90/100
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247 RATING: 98/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brian Branch - Alabama |
|
85% |
| Dillon Thieneman - Oregon |
|
78% |
| Daxton Hill - Michigan |
|
77% |
Draft Profile: Bio
KJ Bolden came out of Buford High School in Buford, Georgia as a consensus five-star recruit and the top-ranked safety in the 2024 class. A two-way standout at receiver and safety, he posted 33 tackles and four interceptions while catching 30 passes for 663 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. His track background includes a 10.76 100-meter dash as a freshman. Originally committed to Florida State, Bolden flipped to Georgia on signing day in December 2023.As a true freshman in 2024, Bolden appeared in all 14 games with two starts and finished fifth on the team with 59 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception. He earned On3 True Freshman All-American honors and made the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Bolden took over as a full-time starter in 2025 following the departure of first-round pick Malaki Starks and started all 14 games. He finished second on the team with 76 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt, earning Coaches All-SEC Second Team honors. He enters 2026 as a preseason All-American and Jim Thorpe Award watchlist selection.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare timed speed with the range to cover the deep middle alone
- Defends the run as well as any back at the position
- Best-in-group tackler, charged with only four misses on heavy volume
- Posted seventy-eight tackles as a single-high and box defender
- Drives on throws with the closing burst to break up six passes
- Reads the quarterback from depth and triggers downhill fast
- Held up at free safety, in the box, and over the slot
- Took the ball away twice while patrolling the back end
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Light at 185 pounds, a frame bigger ball carriers can test
- Interception total is modest for the coverage range
- Man reps against NFL tight ends are still developing
Scouting Report: Summary
Bolden stepped into Georgia's deep middle for a departed first-rounder and looked the part, a rare athlete whose run defense and tackling both sit at the top of the position, with only four misses across single-high, box and slot alignments and the range to erase the deep field alone. However, at 185 pounds he is light enough for bigger ball carriers to test, his two interceptions are a modest total for the coverage range, and his man reps against NFL-caliber tight ends are still developing.Overall, Bolden is a rangy, sure-tackling centerfielder with scheme-friendly recognition and an eagerness to fit the run, a complete, three-phase safety without a real soft spot. He projects as a durable NFL starter, with the ceiling of a Pro Bowler if the takeaways come and the floor of an early three-down safety.
How other scouting services rate KJ Bolden (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
20.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
4.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.