Miami Hurricanes safety Bubba Bolden has been signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent according to Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald. Bolden entered the NFL Draft after spending the last three years with Miami. A four-star signee by USC In 2017, Bolden transferred to Miami in January 2019.
Bolden had 127 tackles, not 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, six pass breakups and five forced fumbles during his Miami tenure. In his final two seasons with Miami Bolden played in 18 games with 16 starts before suffering a season-ending injury. Bolden led a young Miami secondary with a group of outstanding safeties who will succeed him.
Bolden was the 59th ranked player, seventh safety and third in Nevada in the 2017 high school class. In the NFL Bolden will have to prove he can stay healthy. Entering the NFL as a backup, Bolden will have to prove he can play special teams. With Seattle, Bolden will have a pair of former Miami Hurricanes to mentor him.
Former Miami running backs DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer play for Seattle. Homer is one of the best special teams players in the NFL. Seattle did not draft a safety. That could help Bolden in his quest to make the Seattle roster. Seattle is facing an offseason of transition after trading quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver.
Blessed! Big things comin. TRUSSSS https://t.co/k4qPdHcFOT
— BUBBA BOLDEN (@BubbBolden) May 1, 2022
The Seattle secondary is not the Legion of Boom legend it was in the past. Seattle also signed former Miami cornerback Artie Burns as a free agent from the Chicago Bears during the 2022 offseason. Burns is projected to start for Seattle in 2022. Seattle had the 31st-ranked pass defense last season.
Veterans Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs are the starting safeties for Seattle. Ryan Neal, Ugo Amadi and Marquise Blair are listed as the backup safeties. Bolden was hindered by injuries during his Miami Hurricanes career. An ankle injury limited Bolden to five games during his first season with Miami in 2019.
Bolden started all 11 games for Miami in 2020. A torn labrum ended the season for Bolden after seven games in 2021. At 6’3, 200 pounds, Bolden has good size for a safety. Bolden ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. The questions on Bolden are his inconsistencies and tackling. Those need to be improved.
With three safeties ahead of him, Bolden faces a difficult challenge making the Seattle roster. Performing well in the preseason games will be critical for Bolden as well as the aforementioned special teams. The practice squad could be an option for the one-time top 10 safety. Bolden and Dallas were Miami teammates in 2019.