Bills take Hairston in Round 1 to bolster secondary

The Buffalo Bills selected Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 30th overall.

Hairston missed five games in 2024 with a shoulder injury but previously stood out in '23. He led the SEC with five interceptions two years ago, including two pick-6s.

The 21-year-old is a solid fit in a Bills secondary that lacks depth and speed at cornerback. Buffalo also reunited with former All-Pro corner Tre'Davious White earlier this offseason.

The Bills used their 2022 first-round pick on cornerback Kaiir Elam, but the former Florida defensive back was traded to the Dallas Cowboys this year after failing to meet expectations in his first NFL season.

Pre-draft profile

Hairston is a spectacular athlete. Those rare physical gifts were on full display at the combine, where he led all cornerbacks with a 4.28 40 time. It was also easy to see on the field at Kentucky. The easy long speed makes him nearly impossible to beat deep down the field, but he's not just a straight-line blazer. Hairston is also smooth when it comes to flipping his hips or exploding out of transitions. Add in his natural instincts and feel for routes, and he should be considered one of the premier coverage defenders in this draft. He's also an impressive tackler for his size. The frame and play strength are only average, so it's possible he runs into some issues against big-bodied targets in contested situations. But he's plenty competitive at the catch point. Either way, separation is going to be difficult to manage against him in coverage. Hairston is a first-round talent with a high ceiling at the next level.