Every year in the NFL Draft, some prospects are on the bubble between the first and second round. Teams picking late in the first round often give preference to the bubble prospects that play a premium position of wide receiver, offensive tackle, edge rusher, and cornerback. One prospect who is in that group that could rise through the pre-draft workouts is Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Multiple team sources say they think Hairston could be a late first-round pick.
Hairston had a breakout 2023 season and was phenomenal for the Wildcats. He had five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, to go along with six passes broken up and 66 tackles. Last year, Hairston missed a significant amount of the season with a shoulder injury that he suffered in late September. Hairston could have shut it down, but he came back to play in the final two games of the season, finishing with 19 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, four passes broken up, and one interception in five games.
At 6-foot-1, 181 pounds Hairston has good height and length for the NFL with the potential to fill out his frame. In my latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, I have Hairston going early in the second round, but after speaking with team sources, that might be a little low.
