The Buffalo Bills’ secondary is in a shaky spot, and the latest ClutchPoints 2027 NFL Mock Draft has them taking a swing at fixing it with a first-round pick.
In Tim Crean’s projection, Buffalo lands Georgia safety KJ Bolden, a move that would put CJ Gardner-Johnson’s future with the team in even sharper focus after his spitting incident and suspension. Gardner-Johnson will miss Week 8’s home game against the Baltimore Ravens, and ClutchPoints framed the Bills as a team that may already be moving on.
“The Bills' secondary is a mess right now, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson has solidified his situation as a one-year player in Buffalo,” Clutch Points' Tim Crean wrote.
Crean said the Bills need help in the defensive backfield, whether at corner or safety, and identified Bolden as a clean fit for what they’re trying to build.
“The Bills need DB help, be it at corner or safety. In KJ Bolden, the Bills would get an excellent deep safety who also has some formational versatility,” Crean said.
“He would be a perfect partner for Cole Bishop and immediately upgrade the back end of the Bills' D.”
Bolden, listed at 6-foot and 185 pounds, is in his junior season with Georgia. He has 22 tackles this year, along with one interception returned for 29 yards and two pass break-ups. He has also been dealing with injuries, though he could still be available for the Bulldogs’ Week 9 matchup with Florida.
The Bills also lost backup safety Sam Franklin Jr. during the spitting incident, another reminder of how thin the room can get if the depth chart gets hit in the wrong place. Bolden would give Buffalo more athleticism, depth and steadiness at safety if the team chooses to address the position in the 2027 NFL Draft.
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