KJ Bolden
KJ Bolden  S  Georgia | NFL Draft 2027 Souting Report - Portrait Image
KJ Bolden
Height
6-0
Weight
185
College
Georgia
Position
S
Class
Sophomore
Home town
Buford, GA
88.3
Player Rating
2
PositionRank (DB)
4.33
FortyYD Time
Interceptions
2
Interception YDS
Passes Defensed
5
Tackles
76
Sol tackles
32

KJ Bolden S Georgia |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Jersey: #4 ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety
Last Updated: 08/03/2026
Draft Year: 2027
FORTY time: 4.33 seconds (99%*)
Measurables:
Height: 6-0 (40%*) Weight: 185 (6%*)
Forty: 4.33 (O) (99%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
Jersey: #4
ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety
Last Updated: 08/03/2026
Draft Year: 2027
Forty time: 4.33 seconds (99%*)
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-0 (40%*) Weight: 185 (6%*)
Forty: 4.33 (O) (99%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
Overall Rating: 88.3 / 100
Stock Down
Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced
Offense Rating:
76%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
QB Rating When targeted: 51.9
Tackling:
97%
Run Defense:
97%
Coverage:
91%
Zone:
87%
Man/Press:
85%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 1st - Top 10
Overall Rank: #8 Position rank: #2 (DB)
College Games: 28 College Snaps: 1277
Grade: 5 ESPN  Stars 5 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 90/100
Grade: 247 Sports 5  Stars 247 Sports 98 Stars 247 RATING: 98/100
Grade: 5 Stars 5 Stars RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Brian Branch - Alabama
83%
Dillon Thieneman - Oregon
78%
Bud Clark - TCU
73%
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 tacklings both sat at the very top of the position. He posted seventy-eight tackles with only four misses across single-high, box, and slot alignments, drove on throws for six breakups, and showed the range to erase the deep field alone. The speed, the tackling, and the versatility are a first-round trait set at the back end.

The cleanup areas are minor. 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. None of it undercuts the core, which is a rangy, sure-tackling centerfielder who also fits the run at a high level. He is a complete, three-phase safety without a real soft spot.

There is a long-term starting free safety here, a defender who covers the deep middle, fits the run, and tackles everything in front of him. Add the takeaway production to match the range and the grade has Pro Bowl ceiling; Leave it and he is still an early starter. He grades inside the first round as a plug-and-play centerfielder, the rare safety whose tape backs the ranking.

How other scouting services rate KJ Bolden (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
14.4
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
2.0
*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.