With the No. 30 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected cornerback Maxwell Hairston from Kentucky, the fastest player at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. The pick addresses a clear need opposite Christian Benford.
The Bills have consistently fallen short in the playoffs, and their MVP quarterback-led offense hasn’t been the issue. After signing veteran Joey Bosa in free agency, it was evident they needed to strengthen their secondary, and they’ve done just that. But what exactly is Buffalo getting in Hairston?
Buffalo Bills Pick Maxwell Hairston
A native of West Bloomfield, Michigan, Hairston attended West Bloomfield High School. He was a three-star cornerback recruit, per 247Sports. He also participated in track and basketball in high school. Hairston committed to play college football at Kentucky but redshirted his 2021 freshman season.
Heading into his redshirt freshman year in 2022, Hairston wasn’t expected to contribute significantly. He played behind future NFL players Dru Phillips, Carrington Valentine, and Keidron Smith. However, he did appear in 12 games and recorded two tackles in the Youngstown State game.
With Valentine and Smith entering the NFL, Hairston capitalized on the opportunity and became a starter for Kentucky. He started all 13 games, finishing the year with five interceptions and six passes defended. Two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns.
Hairston’s interception and pick-six totals, along with his 131 interception return yards, led the Southeastern Conference in 2023. He was subsequently named second-team All-SEC for his breakout season.
How Will Hairston Fit in Buffalo?
Bills general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott prioritize building a strong team culture, so it’s reasonable to assume they thoroughly evaluated the prospect. Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show Draft Spectacular,” Beane said, “We were nervous at 30 that he wasn’t going to be there.”
McAfee pressed Beane on why Hairston is a good fit for the Bills. Beane responded, “Infectious personality and he can run… This guy can play zone, he has ball skills… Tough kid… We’re excited to add him to the group.”
Now, let’s delve into the strengths and weaknesses of the newest addition to the Bills’ defensive backs.
Strengths
- Elite athlete with track speed and in-game explosiveness to mirror fast receivers in coverage.
- Fluid cornerback with loose hips, allowing for easy changes in direction. Works effectively across his body in coverage.
- Possesses the deep speed out of his breaks needed to accelerate upfield and defend vertical routes.
- His ability to return interceptions for touchdowns makes him a dangerous threat with the ball.
- Demonstrates very good longitudinal agility, shooting downhill well from his backpedal.
- Processes route concepts effectively in zone coverage, showing improved diagnostic speed in 2024.
- Does a good job of staying inside the receiver’s hip pocket in man coverage.
- Offers a sharp internal clock, allowing him to time his jumps on routes to make plays on the ball.
Weaknesses
- Despite his high interception total, his ball-tracking skills on deep passes aren’t as refined as expected.
- Listed at 6-foot-1 in college, he measured 5-foot-11 at the NFL Combine. His lanky frame could be a concern in the NFL.
- Doesn’t play with significant physicality in press coverage; this lack of play strength could hinder him at the catch point against larger receivers.
- Shows willingness as a tackler once engaged, but his pursuit angles are often too passive.
- More of a catch tackler than someone who consistently shoots downhill to get to the ball-carrier.
- Missed time due to injury in 2024, and his thinner build could raise long-term durability concerns.
The first night of the 2025 NFL draft is complete, and it appears the Bills have addressed a significant need by drafting the fastest player at the combine.
