The Bills have a new weapon for their secondary, as they used their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky.
The Buffalo Bills stuck at 30th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, and used the pick to bring in a new weapon in their secondary: cornerback Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky. Everything you need to know about Hairston can be found in this scouting report below.
Stats & Accolades
- 2021: Redshirted
- 2022: Played in 12 games.
- 2023: Started 13 games (68 tackles,1.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, five interceptions, two pick-sixes). Second-Team All-SEC.
- 2024: Started seven games (19 tackles, sack, four pass breakups, pick-six, two forced fumbles). Missed five games due to a shoulder injury.
What the Bills are getting:
Maxwell Hairston is a very explosive and dynamic athlete at the cornerback position. He played almost exclusively on the outside where he used his elite movement skills to lock down opposing receivers and rack up six career interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) during his two years of starting for the Wildcats. Hairston is rather lean at 5’11 and 183 pounds so he will have his work cut out for him against the NFL’s larger receivers, on top of his lack of impact as a run defender. Whichever team decides to draft him will have to balance that red flag next to his ability as an uber-confident ball-hawk who will help build a stingier secondary.
Strengths
- Elite physical traits that will help him succeed in any coverage scheme
- Eye-popping click-and-close speed
- Plays with immense confidence, wants to lock down everyone
- Fastest 40 time at the NFL Combine (4.28)
- Nose for the end zone (three career interceptions returned for touchdowns)
Weaknesses
- Massive liability against the run
- Inconsistent open-field tackler
- Will get bullied by NFL’s larger receivers
- Recent injury concerns after missing five games in 2024 with a shoulder injury
Athletic Testing
- Height: 5’11
- Weight: 183 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 4.28 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.53 seconds
- Vertical jump: 39 ½ inches
- Broad jump: 10’9
- 3-cone drill: N/A
- Short shuttle: N/A
- Bench Press: N/A