The Philadelphia Eagles bolstered their defensive backfield Monday by signing cornerback Isaiah Bolden, a former New England Patriots draft selection, while parting ways with offensive lineman Hollin Pierce.
Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the moves on social media early Monday.
“Eagles have signed CB Isaiah Bolden and released T/G Hollin Pierce,” McLane wrote.
The Eagles confirmed the transactions in their own statement: “We have signed CB Isaiah Bolden and released T/G Hollin Pierce.”
Bolden, listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, brings size and speed to a secondary that has dealt with depth questions at times. He entered the NFL as a seventh-round choice by the Patriots in the 2023 draft, selected 245th overall out of Jackson State.
Eagles Insight noted the selection details on social media Monday.
“Isaiah Bolden is a former 2023 7th Round pick out of Jackson State by the Patriots,” the account posted. “He was selected at pick 245, just one pick before DT Moro Ojomo.”
Bolden began his college career at Florida State before transferring to Jackson State. There, in 2022, he played under head coach Deion Sanders and lined up opposite Travis Hunter, who later became the Heisman Trophy winner and the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein had projected Bolden as a priority free agent after the cornerback posted a 4.35-second time in the 40-yard dash.
“Bolden projects as a press-man cornerback with plus size, length and top-end speed,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “He lacks the instincts and technique to maintain his feel for routes in off-man and zone coverages, but he might have a chance to utilize his traits effectively in a physical snap-to-whistle cover scheme. He’s light on ball production, but the measurables are impressive. Bolden could get an early ticket to a practice squad to continue his journey.”
Football runs in the Bolden family. His father, Juran Bolden, spent eight seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The elder Bolden also played four seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Bolden’s own professional path has included significant setbacks. During his rookie preseason in 2023, he suffered a serious injury in the second game against the Packers. On Aug. 19 of that year, he lost feeling throughout his body after attempting a tackle. The contest was later suspended.
According to an ESPN report at the time: “The Patriots and Packers had their preseason game Saturday night suspended early in the fourth quarter after New England rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden absorbed a hit from a teammate that led to him being immobilized, placed on a stretcher and carted off the field. The Patriots said Bolden had ‘feeling in all his extremities’ but will remain hospitalized in the Green Bay area overnight for observation.”
The Patriots released Bolden following the 2024 season. He spent 2025 on the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad and appeared with the Louisville Kings of the United Football League in 2026.
The signing gives Bolden another opportunity to stick in the NFL with a contending roster. For the Eagles, it represents a low-risk addition of a player with desirable physical tools who has continued to pursue a career after a frightening injury early in his professional tenure.
Pierce’s release opens a roster spot as the team fine-tunes its roster ahead of the regular season. Bolden will now compete for a role in the defensive back group during the final stages of preparation.
The moves come as Philadelphia continues to evaluate its secondary options and seek contributors who can provide depth and special teams value. Bolden’s combination of length, speed and experience under high-profile coaching could help him carve out a place on the 53-man roster or practice squad.
