🏈 The Bills Needed a Corner — and Now All Eyes Are on Maxwell Hairston
Let’s be honest: Buffalo desperately needed help at cornerback going into the draft. Everyone knew it. Instead of doing something wild like trading up or bailing out of the first round, GM Brandon Beane stood his ground at pick No. 30 — and grabbed Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston.
This kid brings serious speed to a Bills secondary that’s been begging for it. The dream? Pair him up with Christian Benford and maybe — just maybe — the Bills end up with two legit CB1s on the roster.
Of course, nothing’s handed out in the NFL. Hairston is expected to line up as CB2 opposite Benford, but he’s going to have to earn that spot during training camp. And there’s already a bit of a cloud over him — he was recently named in a civil lawsuit tied to something that allegedly happened back in 2021 during his time at Kentucky. Not great timing, but we’ll see how that unfolds.
Back to football: the pressure on Hairston is real. He’s not just another rookie — he’s a first-round pick on a team with Super Bowl dreams. That means the Bills need him to make an impact right away, not eventually.
According to CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso, Hairston is one of the rookies who absolutely has to show up and show out in Year 1. Why? Because Buffalo’s window to win it all is wide open right now — and any weak spot, especially at corner, could cost them.
Trapasso even said:
“He’s on the smaller side, but when fully healthy in 2023, he snagged five interceptions, broke up six more passes, and returned two of those picks for touchdowns.”
Translation: this kid can ball. But with Buffalo pushing for a Super Bowl, his every move this season will be under a microscope.
The bottom line? If Hairston doesn’t deliver, and the Bills fall short again… well, fair or not, people might point the finger his way. No pressure, rook. Just help your team finally win a ring.
More Than Just a Draft Pick — Bills Rookie Carries Heavy Expectations
