Zion Branch S Georgia |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #2 ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.48 seconds (79%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 24.0 DOB: 10/20/2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #2 | |
| ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.48 seconds (79%*) | |
| Age: 24.0 DOB: 10/20/2002 | |
| Overall Rating: |
74.0 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 86.1 | |
| Tackling: |
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84% |
| Run Defense: |
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76% |
| Coverage: |
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75% |
| Zone: |
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69% |
| Man/Press: |
|
76% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#466
Position rank:
#74 (DB)
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| College Games: 33 College Snaps: 662 | ||
ESPN RATING: 85/100
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247 RATING: 97/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Donovan McMillon - Pittsburgh |
|
94% |
| Jordan Howden - Minnesota |
|
88% |
| DeShon Singleton - Nebraska |
|
83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Zion Branch comes from a football family; his uncle was Hall of Fame receiver Cliff Branch, and his brother, Zachariah, is now an NFL receiver. A four-star safety at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Zion intercepted five passes as a sophomore and won a state title.Branch redshirted at USC in 2022, made 22 tackles with a forced fumble in 2023 and added 19 tackles in 10 games in 2024. He transferred to Georgia with his brother in the spring of 2025 and made 27 tackles in 11 games, including seven against Marshall, and played the second half against Florida after KJ Bolden's ejection.
In his last year of eligibility, Branch has been the backup free safety behind Bolden. He has played in six games, making a tackle in each of the wins over Tennessee State, Western Kentucky, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Good speed and range for a safety playing in the deep middle
- Long, rangy frame suited to a deep safety role
- Played well in a pinch against Florida in 2025
- Experienced special teams contributor over five college seasons
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Backup role in 2026, with only about 74 defensive snaps
- Never held a starting job at USC or Georgia
- Limited production, with three solo tackles in six games
- Listed as questionable before the 2025 SEC title game with an undisclosed injury
- Older prospect who has spent five years in college
Scouting Report: Summary
Branch has the speed, length and pedigree that get a safety noticed. He covers ground well from the deep middle and showed he could hold up when called on, as he did in the second half against Florida in 2025.However, he never locked down a starting job at either school, and his role in 2026 has been limited to backup snaps. There is very little recent tape, and he is an older prospect.
Overall, Branch is a toolsy safety who will need a strong pre-draft workout to earn attention. He projects as a priority free agent long shot who would compete on special teams.
How other scouting services rate Zion Branch (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
356.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
77.0
*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.