49ers hosted Georgia safety Javon Bullard on pre-draft visit

Bullard had a career-high 56 tackles, including one for a loss, five passes defensed, and two interceptions in 12 game appearances as a senior in 2023, per Sports Reference. Over three seasons, he recorded 114 tackles, including eight for a loss, 3.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, and four interceptions.

"Bullard isn't a clean fit as a full-time nickel and might lack the length and range teams seek from a split safety, but he's a good football player with the field awareness teams are looking for," Lance Zierlein wrote in his NFL.com scouting report. "He's going to be a little tight with lateral movements, which will create some throwing windows and missed tackles from time to time, but his route recognition and angles of pursuit help to stabilize his play.

"There will be some challenging matchups, but Georgia's provided the blueprint by playing him as a big nickel with run support and modest man cover duties -- NFL teams would be wise to follow suit. With the right fit, Bullard should develop into a quality NFL starter."

At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 5' 10 1/2" and 198-pound safety posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.47 seconds.

Bullard ranks 47th on Pro Football Focus' big board after earning an overall grade of 82.8 in 2023, a career-high. He also earned a career-high coverage grade of 88.4. Last season, opposing quarterbacks owned a 34.0 passer rating when targeting Bullard.

San Francisco's All-Pro safety, Talanoa Hufanga, is recovering from a torn ACL sustained in November. Tashaun Gipson, the team's other starting safety last season, remains a free agent, while Ji'Ayir Brown, who filled in after Hufanga's injury, is entering his second NFL season.

Regarding Hufanga's recovery, head coach Kyle Shanahan stated last month, "It's always scary coming back from an ACL, but once you come back, in this day and age, it's usually okay. [We] expect to get him sometime in training camp, so that should be all right."

Visit our pre-draft tracker for a comprehensive overview of all reported formal and informal meetings between the 49ers and prospective NFL rookies.

The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit, Michigan, from Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27.