Bills' First-Round Pick Predicted to 'Disappoint' in Rookie Season

The Buffalo Bills selected cornerback Maxwell Hairston out of the University of Kentucky with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but some are already doubting the young defensive back.

In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski, he puts together a list of this year's first-round picks who have the "potential to disappoint" in their rookie season, and one of the players he lists is the young Bills cornerback.

"Hairston did deal with a shoulder issue throughout the 2024 campaign. Though this fact doesn't excuse his lack of physicality. Instead, it highlights his slight frame at a mere 183 pounds and how it'll handle an NFL pounding," Sobleski wrote. "The rookie will compete with veteran Tre'Davious White to start opposite Christian Benford. Hairston will get his far share of opportunities. When he does, expect some outstanding play and some head-scratching ones as well."

Hairston used his speed at Kentucky to make his impact felt, but some scouts believe his decision-making is not quite as fast. But his stats in college show a bit of the reason the Bills took a chance on him in the first round.

He played just seven games in his final season with the Wildcats, but his second season with the team was fantastic. He racked up an SEC-leading five interceptions, and he was also able to show his speed by taking two of them back to the house.

He might have to bulk up a bit to do so, but Hairston could be in a solid position to prove the doubters wrong and make an impact in his first year in the league.