2 weeks Ago By Billy Heyen
The Buffalo Bills needed a cornerback. They just got the fastest one in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Bills used the No.
30 overall pick on Thursday night to take Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston. "Buffalo is getting the ultimate competitor, the ultimate teammate," an excited Hairston said on ESPN. Hairston ran the fastest 40 at the entire 2025 NFL Combine.
He came across the line in 4.28 seconds, one of the fastest in league history. Hairston was a three-star recruit out of the state of Michigan who won a high school state championship before leaving to play at Kentucky.
SN's NFL DRAFT HQ: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Top 250 big board In 2023, Hairston had five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. Injuries limited him to a single pick in 2024. Hairston's athleticism isn't just the 40.
He also had a 39.5-inch vertical jump and went 10 feet, 9 inches in the broad jump at the combine. There's a Bills connection here, too.
Former Buffalo special teams ace and long-time NFL running back Taiwan Jones is Hairston's cousin. Hairston is also cousins with former NBA player Lyndsey Hairston. The Bills got rid of Kaiir Elam this offseason in a trade to the Cowboys, and they haven't signed Rasul Douglas back.
This was a huge need, and they filled it with as splashy a cornerback pick as they could have with the uber-athletic Hairston. MORE NFL DRAFT: Browns' Travis Hunter trade mistake could be a generational error Steelers' Aaron Rodgers pursuit down to 2 outcomes after Shedeur Sanders choice Giants trade back in to first round to get Jaxson Dart Giants' Abdul Carter comparison to Micah Parsons makes sense for 3 reasons Panthers commit to Bryce Young with Tetairoa McMillan pick Browns draft Michigan star instead of Hunter Bears fail at Ashton Jeanty pursuit as Raiders draft next star RB Jets make unexciting pick at No. 7 instead of Tyler Warren Saints' Aaron Rodgers pursuit still alive after QB decision Bears just drafted Ben Johnson's new Sam LaPorta Cowboys draft pick Tyler Booker so excited, gives Roger Goodell huge bear hug Colts' Tyler Warren is biggest steal of NFL Draft first round Falcons' Jalon Walker draws comparison to Super Bowl hero Bengals draft Trey Hendrickson replacement with riskiest pick of first round Meet Grey Zabel, Seahawks new offensive lineman from NDSU Buccaneers draft Chris Godwin replacement in Emeka Egbuka Chargers' Najee Harris signing complicates Omarion Hampton draft pick Packers end crazy WR first-round drought with Matthew Golden pick Falcons trade insane price to move up for James Pearce Ravens get 'dream pick' in massive steal Lions, Browns pick wrong sides of Ohio State-Michigan rivalry in NFL Draft.
