Green Bay, Wis. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - With their first-round selection, 30th overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills addressed the cornerback position with the pick of Maxwell Hairston out of the University of Kentucky.
Standing at 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds, Hairston tallied 19 total tackles in his final year with the Wildcats, while also registering one sack, two forced fumbles, one interception and a touchdown.
Hairston completed his college career as a two-year starter, where he played in 32 games and started 20. He also tied a program record at Kentucky with Dallas Owens for the most career interceptions returned for a touchdown with three.
While being considered undersized, Hairston brings some much-needed speed to the Bills' secondary. He posted a blazing 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Hairston also rejoins his former Kentucky teammate Ray Davis in Buffalo. The running back was the Bills' fourth-round pick (128th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Here is what NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein has to say about Hairston:
"Slender outside cornerback with long arms and impressive ball production. Hairston is capable of playing all forms of zone and man coverage. He anticipates well with his eyes forward, and has the burst to take the ball away, posting six interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) over his last 20 games. He stays connected in man coverage with good agility and fluidity, but needs to do a better job of locating the football downfield. He will struggle to contest big wideouts, and his run support will turn off some teams. Hairston has the athleticism and on-ball talent to become a starter, but he needs to prove he can hold up to the rigors and physicality of the NFL game."
The Bills are slated to pick twice on Day 2 of the NFL Draft on Friday, starting with the 56th overall pick in Round 2.
