Georgia football has already made a name for itself under Kirby Smart, producing 21 NFL first-round draft picks and multiple Round 1 selections in six different drafts. But the 2027 NFL Draft could be the one that truly makes history for the Bulldogs—and it all comes down to two defensive backs.
Cornerback Ellis Robinson and safety KJ Bolden are both projected as first-round picks in early mock drafts from USA TODAY Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN, The Athletic, and Pro Football Focus. If both players hear their names called on Day 1, it would mark the first time in program history that two Georgia defensive backs were selected in the first round of the same draft.
The Bulldogs came close in 2021 when cornerback Eric Stokes went No. 29 overall, but fellow corner Tyson Campbell slipped to the second round (No. 33 overall). That near-miss only adds to the anticipation for what Robinson and Bolden could achieve together.
Both players arrived in Athens as five-star prospects, but their paths to this moment have been different. Bolden made an immediate impact as a true freshman, earning starts against Florida and Tennessee and giving veteran safety Malaki Starks the flexibility to play in the slot or closer to the line of scrimmage. His versatility and instincts were on display from day one.
Robinson, ranked as the nation's No. 2 overall prospect in the 2024 class by 247Sports, took a more patient route. He played sparingly as a freshman, appearing in just four games before redshirting. But the 2025 season was a breakout: he tied for the SEC lead with four interceptions and was named the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.
"From the time he got here, he's got elite ball skills, elite cover ability, toughness, and a competitor," Smart said of Robinson. "The mental disposition and the stamina are probably two reasons he struggled as a freshman, because we had good players here. He could probably cover as good as they could then. He didn't always know exactly what to do. He got better at that. He got better at having a short memory."
Robinson himself credits a shift in mindset for his growth. "If you get a ball caught on you in practice or in a game, it's just the next play, really," said the New Haven, Connecticut native. That "next-play mentality" has become his trademark, and it's exactly the kind of resilience NFL scouts love to see.
With both players now poised to make a run at history, Georgia's defensive backfield could once again be the talk of draft weekend. And for Bulldogs fans, the thought of seeing two of their own go in the first round together is the kind of moment that defines a dynasty.