Pats Pulpit
Previewing the Patriots cornerback heading into his third season in New England.
With Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis as a potentially potent 1-2 punch, and with Marcus Jones holding down the fort in the slot, the New England Patriots are well-set atop their cornerback depth chart. The depth spots behind those three, however, are open for competition.
Among those fighting for a role within the group is third-year man Isaiah Bolden.
Name: Isaiah Bolden
Position: Cornerback
Jersey number: 29 (b)
Opening day age: 25 (12/16/1999)
Measurements: 6’2 1/8”, 205 lbs, 76” wingspan, 32 3/4” arm length, 8 3/4” hand size, 4.35s 40-yard dash, 4.63s short shuttle, 38” vertical jump, 10’9” broad jump, 9.44 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: New England Patriots (2023-) | College: Florida State (2018-19), Jackson State (2020-22)
A four-star cornerback recruit out of Wesley Chapel, FL, Bolden received scholarship offers from some of the most prestigious colleges in the country while still in high school. Despite teams such as Michigan, Georgia and Clemson trying to bring him in, and him briefly committing to Oregon, he eventually decided to stay local: in December 2017, Bolden committed to Florida State.
Bolden appeared in 14 games with one start as a Seminole, registering nine tackles and an interception while also serving as a kickoff returner. During the summer of 2020, he moved from cornerback to wide receiver but after entering the transfer portal and joining Jackson State changed back to his original position.
As a Tiger, Bolden added 26 games as well as 55 tackles and a fumble recovery to his résumé. He also continued to be a prolific return man and at one point led the nation with an average of 36.9 yards per kickoff return (2021).
Nonetheless, he had to wait until the 245th pick in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft to hear his name called by the Patriots. Since then, Bolden has played 14 games for the club — all of them in 2024 — and seen time as a cornerback and special teamer.
Strengths: Bolden is an impressive height-weight-speed athlete, who combines a 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame with a 4.35-second 40 time. He gets up to speed fairly quickly as well, which allows him to match vertical patterns in man coverage and be a factor in pursuit as well as on special teams. In general, Bolden offers a versatile skillset that allows him to play various roles both on defense and in the kicking game. His game also includes a proper level of physicality.
Weaknesses: Bolden is a raw player, whose instincts, route recognition and awareness are all still in a developing stage. As a consequence, his processing in coverage is sometimes not happening as quickly as it needs to. He also is more of a linear athlete than somebody suited to play man match across a game: his hips and feet lack fluidity, leading to moderate quickness in his movements. Bolden also has limited ball production...
