Jalon Kilgore NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Buffalo Bills S

The Buffalo Bills selected South Carolina S Jalon Kilgore with the No. 167 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Jalon Kilgore was built in a lab and explicitly designed to be an NFL defensive back. He has the size, athleticism, and speed to transition right away and make an impact while adding length to disrupt the catch point.

Kilgore is a true junior who has played his entire career at South Carolina, having been a former 4-star recruit with 22 starts in 25 games played entering 2025.

He's racked up tons of awards across his career and been an impact player at every level of the defense with his versatility between nickel corner and safety. Through his career, he's produced 178 tackles (109 solo), four and a half tackles for loss, eight interceptions, 21 passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.

Dan has covered the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL Draft since 2019 while contributing for RGR Football. Most recently, he spent the 2025 draft cycle at The Draft Network and is entering his first season in our scouting department.

Highlights

Jalon Kilgore Highlights

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Where He Wins

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— Kilgore is a physically gifted athlete who excels in the short area. He triggers on quick routes and underneath plays fast and with intent.

— He's a willing run defender who identifies the ball carrier quickly and attacks. He has the length and play strength to consistently make sure tackles.

— A coverage versatile defender who sees route combinations in zone quickly and mirrors the quarterback. He gets proper depth and passes off routes out of his zone.

— Flashes hand-usage in man coverage to throw off the timing and keep himself in phase. When combined with his burst, he can disrupt the catch point and find the football.

Areas of Improvement

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— At his size, Kilgore should play with more physicality in all aspects of his game and be more willing to take on blocks in the run game.

— He gives receivers free releases too often and his deep recovery speed is a question mark. He should be square and more patient against releases to stay in phase.

— His ball tracking down the field is hit or miss and receivers who play with strong hands and good timing can out work him at the catch point.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 7.5

COMPARABLE GRADE: CB Khyree Jackson, Oregon (7.5 in 2024), Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia (7.4 in 2023),  CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina (7.6 in 2025)

OVERALL RANK: 58

POSITION RANK: S6

PRO COMPARISON: Jamel Dean

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'1 ⅜"
Weight: 210
Hand Size: 9 ⅜"
Arm Length: 32 ⅞"
Wingspan: N/A

40-yard dash: 4.4
10-yard split: 1.56
Vertical: 37"
Broad: 10'10"
3 cone: N/A
Shuttle: 4.32
Bench: 16