Bills First Rnd pick in 2025 draft: Maxwell Hairston - CB - Kentucky

[hondo in seattle]

I personally feel better about his pick than I did about Elam.  But let's be honest, I'm just a fan who knows little about the nuances of talent evaluation. 

 

Even professional GMs often get things wrong.  For example, Bill Polian who got two teams into the Super Bowl once traded away a first-round pick to get Tony Ugoh who went on to became a career journeyman backup.  So I don't have 100% confidence in Beane who, after all, picked Elam high.

 

But I have even less faith in Joe Marino or Dougie from NFLSuperDraftExperts.com who writes his takes on his laptop as he suffers from irritable bowel syndrome on the toilet of his shabby apartment paid for by his unemployment checks.  I am interested in expert opinions (ex scouts, coaches, and I'll include guys like Cosell) but I'm not sure why the naysayers back up their arguments with the opinions of non-experts.  Just give us your own take.  Half of us will be wrong and that's okay.

[MrEpsYtown]

3 minutes ago, Logic said:

Haha I truly don't ever remember reading a 1st round Bills draft thread like this.

It is SHOCKINGLY devoid of hot takes and anger.

Why is that? Because corner was such a glaring need? Because the guy we picked ran a 4.28? WHAT IS BEHIND THIS MADNESS?!?!

An academic study on the matter needs to be completed, I think.

 

Let me just say I love the pick. 

 

But I think the lack of hotakes is mostly the lack of options available. It does feel like, for once, they drafted BPA. 

 

The big draft crushes here, Grant and Harmon and Nolan were all long gone. So no one has an argument there. The only huffing and puffing is people saying we should have traded up/down or taken Will Johnson. 

 

In past years, we all knew Orakpo was the right pick and we screwed up. We all felt like Elam was a reach, 3 all pros went after and the Chiefs took our guy. Last year, everyone wanted Ladd. We all wanted Khalil Mack and not Samy Watkins. This year it's like what is the alternative to Hairston? I also think the 40 helps. 

 

Anyways, great pick and I am excited to watch this guy play. 

[Ralonzo]

10 hours ago, US Egg said:

Not the original Happy Hairston.

 

Bills will improve their coverage one way or another.

 

[Rich Stadium Original]

For those of you who read too much into what the draft EXPERTS have to say, here is the NFL spin on Benford from three years ago..."Average Backup or Special Teamer"

 

Grade : 5.95

[Tony P]

From RAS Football (Relative Athletic Score):

Maxwell Hairston was drafted in round 1 with pick 30 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.63 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 104 out of 2761 CB from 1987 to 2025.

 

A bit short & needs to add some weight but otheriwse, an Elite athletic profile.

 

Updated RAS

[HamptonBillsfan]

1 hour ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

LOL

 

Here's a mock draft database where it collects NFL draft sites/scouting reports on players.  This is about 100 sites stating he's a 1st rounder.  

https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/players/2025/maxwell-hairston#google_vignette

 

 

Here are defensive backs that Beane has drafted.  You're right, its a FACT he can't draft defensive backs.  Both of those guys below, I guarantee won't receive a second contract because Beane can't draft defensive backs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s great but maybe you should have said he can draft defensive backs after the 4th round because those two examples of players no one wanted for 120 picks ,and 200 picks that  worked out. The extension of Benford is worrisome though with his two rapid fire concussions. My issue is I would gone with the Michigan corner over Hairston if injuries don’t matter.

[GunnerBill]

12 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

 

Let me just say I love the pick. 

 

But I think the lack of hotakes is mostly the lack of options available. It does feel like, for once, they drafted BPA. 

 

The big draft crushes here, Grant and Harmon and Nolan were all long gone. So no one has an argument there. The only huffing and puffing is people saying we should have traded up/down or taken Will Johnson. 

 

In past years, we all knew Orakpo was the right pick and we screwed up. We all felt like Elam was a reach, 3 all pros went after and the Chiefs took our guy. Last year, everyone wanted Ladd. We all wanted Khalil Mack and not Samy Watkins. This year it's like what is the alternative to Hairston? I also think the 40 helps. 

 

Anyways, great pick and I am excited to watch this guy play. 

 

I did not want Khalil fudging Mack. I wanted Mike Evans. More than I think I have ever wanted any draft prospect before or since.

[Cash]

2 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

I never am a student of the draft, but my view of the Bills needs was the same as you. I wasn't desperate to get a high end corner, in part because McBeane have done so well putting solid corners on the field without spending a lot on them.  

 

But I also agree with you that if Hairston can start, the Bills have a very nice corner room.  Of course, a few years ago I was typing "If Elam can start," and we know how that went. It isn't easy to play the corner the way McDermott wants it played. 

 

I wound up talking myself into wanting a CB with our first pick - unless someone like Golden or one of the pass rushers fell, or maybe if Malaki Starks fell.  #1 thing I wanted was a player who will make a positive impact.  I think Hairston has a great chance to do that.  I also don't mind that only Hunter and Barron went before him.  The Bills can say whatever they want, but they clearly had McDuffie ranked over Elam back then, and if they'd beat the Chiefs to the punch that would've been a great pick.

 

For me, I keep coming back to the most killer stat from the end of last season - Mahomes averaging something like 2.5 seconds to get the ball out.  Put simply, there is no pass rush that's going to consistently get to the QB that fast.  That's not to say I'm against fortifying the d-line, because I am.  There's all kinds of benefits to having a great d-line.  But we could've brought in 2007 Giants d-line via a time machine, and it wouldn't have made a difference in that game.

[Ga boy]

12 minutes ago, sven233 said:

 

I can understand where the confusion comes in with this.  I have been reading write ups that tell 2 different stories.  Some call him a zone corner.  Some call him a man corner.  

 

What I will say is, based on my tape breakdowns anyway, is that he is a very good zone-match CB with solid man coverage skills.  He did play off a lot matching switch releases reading the QB and then driving on the ball with his great speed.  But, there were plenty of times where they lined him up on an island and he played press man or played off a bit but used great trail technique to stay in the WRs hip pocket.

 

If you are interested to see a little bit of everything he does, including the good and the bad, go watch his game against Texas and watch him go against Golden and Bond.  He wins a bunch, but loses as well in man coverage.  There are also good examples of him in zone coverage where he recognizes the play and drives on the ball to limit RAC or force an incompletion.  You will also see him miss a tackle or 2 that led to bigger plays, but I do think at least one of those was a busted coverage or just a bad call.  Regardless, you will see him play in all types of coverages.  There is one play that really stand out int this game that showcases who he is as a corner.  He's lined up on Bond who looks like he is running a go but Bond sticks his foot in the ground and turns it into a post.  But, after initially getting beat, Max catches up to Bond very quickly (Bond runs in the 4.3s by the way) and high points the ball in the endzone and knocks it away.  It is just a beautiful play.  Maybe the throw could have been a bit better, but that's the way it goes and Max made the play.

 

So, what is he?  I'd call him an excellent zone-match defender with solid man coverage skills that can improve with proper coaching and adding a bit more weight to hold up better against certain types of WRs.  Hope this helps!

Oh yea!  Helps a lot.  I’d like to see him at 197 and 4.3 in pads, and make Mahomey hold the pumpkin for another .5 seconds.

[Doc]

4 minutes ago, Tony P said:

From RAS Football (Relative Athletic Score):

Maxwell Hairston was drafted in round 1 with pick 30 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.63 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 104 out of 2761 CB from 1987 to 2025.

 

A bit short & needs to add some weight but otheriwse, an Elite athletic profile.

 

Updated RAS

 

A bit short?  He's 5'11".

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

I love that your "irrationally upset" post still included the facts that DL and WR were picked over, that CB was probably the best value at our pick, and that we may now have one of the deepest CB groups in the league.

If this is the new "shouting angry Bills fan", I'll take it! 😅

Bravo!

It's the standard I want so I better live up to it

 

Besides

 

*Shakes bottle of pills*

 

The docs say they'll lock me up if I don't stay on the meds. I don't know what for, I just told them I was a drought era Bills fan

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

A bit short?  He's 5'11".

 

That's only average height relative to the position in the NFL I think is what he means.

5 minutes ago, Cash said:

they clearly had McDuffie ranked over Elam back then

 

I promise you they didn't. From pretty close to the horses mouth.

[Royale with Cheese]

1 minute ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

That’s great but maybe you should have said he can draft defensive backs after the 4th round because those two examples of players no one wanted for 120 picks ,and 200 picks that  worked out. The extension of Benford is worrisome though with his two rapid fire concussions. My issue is I would gone with the Michigan corner over Hairston if injuries don’t matter.

 

Or maybe you shouldn't have said he can't draft defensive backs....now you're criticizing him for finding late round talent.  

And already have labeled Hairston as a bust.

 

Man, you studied that Michigan corner really hard where you can't even remember his name.  Good job on that research.

[Simon]

25 minutes ago, sven233 said:

He did play off a lot matching switch releases reading the QB and then driving on the ball with his great speed.... There are also good examples of him in zone coverage where he recognizes the play and drives on the ball to limit RAC or force an incompletion. 

 

 

His ability to keep his head up without sacrificing speed and athleticism is an extremely rare trait and enormously valuable in any coverage.

[Cash]

Some quotes I enjoyed from Mike Tanier's pre-draft writeup on Hairston (emphasis mine):

 

Quote

Against Georgia early last season, Hairston was targeted four times in 27 coverage snaps, allowing just one 13-yard reception.

 

When he returned from injury late in the season against Texas, Hairston allowed two catches on four targets while on the field for 32 coverage snaps. He recorded two passes defensed in the end zone, one by outjumping Isaiah Bond (perhaps with a wee smidge of contact) and swatting a potential touchdown away.

 

Hairston handles man coverage well but is at his best in underneath zones, where he can jump routes, blow up screens and hold his own in run support. But his tape mostly shows a cornerback dropping back over and over again while quarterbacks look for open receivers on the opposite side of the field. That’s often a sign the cornerback you are watching is really good.

 

I'm very encouraged!

[Logic]

Just now, Simon said:

 

His ability to keep his head up without sacrificing speed and athleticism is an extremely rare trait and enormously valuable in any coverage.

Instincts, eyes, fearlessness, aggressiveness, and high football IQ are so important in corners.

Combining those things -- all of which Hairston seems to have -- with 4.28 speed seems like it makes for a potentially lethal combination.

I foresee game changing pick-sixes in Mad Max's future.

[HamptonBillsfan]

11 hours ago, nosejob said:

Massive liability in run support? Poor open field tackling? Shoulder injury? Needs to prove he can hold up to the rigors of the NFL?

 

Good job. Won't be starting day 1. Awesome

Welcome to the world of truly loyal fans that can’t handle anything that might objectively criticize a preconceived narrative. Will Johnson was a better pick according to many.  He would have been a top 5 pick before his injury. Bills fans can’t use injuries because Hairston had one too

 

[T.E.]

16 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I did not want Khalil fudging Mack. I wanted Mike Evans. More than I think I have ever wanted any draft prospect before or since.

Remember when every Bills fan on earth wanted Haloti Ngata and they drafted Donte Whitner?

 

"These guys know a lot more than some fan on his couch!"

 

Okay, but at the end if the day, they're just guessing too.

[MrEpsYtown]

16 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I did not want Khalil fudging Mack. I wanted Mike Evans. More than I think I have ever wanted any draft prospect before or since.

 

Ah yes Evans! I member a Mack camp, an Evans camp, and group of people who wanted OBJ. But that's the ballyhoo...we all knew we instantly screwed up the draft. 

[Nelius]

1 minute ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

Welcome to the world of truly loyal fans that can’t handle anything that might objectively criticize a preconceived narrative. Will Johnson was a better pick according to many.  He would have been a top 5 pick before his injury. Bills fans can’t use injuries because Hairston had one too

 

Every single team passed on Johnson and may do so again. You have no idea of the extent of his injuries. You didn’t even know his name two posts ago.