2025 NFL Scouting Report: Maxwell Hairston

Prospect Summary:

Under Mark Stoops, Kentucky has produced a lot of good defensive talent for the NFL, and Hairston will keep that tradition alive in 2025. 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. In 2024, Hairston had 19 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, four passes broken up, and one interception. He went out in late September with a shoulder injury but returned late in the season to play for Kentucky. Hairston could have shut it down, and the Wildcats were having a disappointing season. After the season, Hairston performed well at the Senior Bowl and was outstanding at the NFL Scouting Combine highlighted by an electric 40-yard dash time of 4.28 seconds.

Based on his 2023 performance in particular, Hairston’s game has some definite strengths. He is a good athlete, a smooth mover, and has a good twitch. In addition to his athleticism, Hairston has loose hips to turn and run without taking extra steps. Hairston really excelled in zone coverage, as he has quality instincts and used those to get in good position while reading routes in zone coverage. Perhaps his best trait is his ball skills. Hairston really attacks the football, and he has good hands to grab an interception or slap passes away. Hairston’s zone coverage and ball skills make him a nice fit for zone-based defenses and teams that like to run Tampa 2 coverage.

Hairston is better in other techniques, but he has the ability to play some off man coverage. He showed the speed to carry verticals and has enough twitch to be smooth throught the route. Hairston is not a good fit to play press man coverage given his lack of size and strength, but Hairston is very fast and will be an asset for matching up against elite speed receivers in the NFL.

In the 2025 NFL Draft, Hairston looks like a potential late first-round or second-round pick. He could become a quality starter in the NFL if he can stay healthy.