Maxwell Hairston NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Kentucky CB

HEIGHT: 5'11"

WEIGHT: 189

HAND: 8⅞"

ARM: 31½"

WINGSPAN: 76"

POSITIVES

— Long arms and a good size frame to play at all levels. Shows well as a blitzer.

— Press defender who likes to get his hands on and ride receivers downfield.

— Shows great vision and awareness in zone coverage. Plays the quarterback's eyes while feeling threats.

— Opportunistic player who looks to capitalize on tipped or overthrown passes.

NEGATIVES

— Not a burner. He can get stretched vertically at times.

— Inconsistent footwork can lead to wasted steps out of breaks and lacks an elite burst.

— Poor eye discipline in coverage. Eyes in the backfield can pull him out of position.

— Lacks consistent physicality in tackling, especially in the open field.

2024 STATISTICS

— 7 Games, 19 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 INT, 4 PBU, 2 FF

NOTES

— Games Started: 20

— 3-Star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2024 Second-Team All-SEC

— 2024 Shoulder injury that kept him out weeks 5-10

— 2023 Second-Team All-SEC

OVERALL

Maxwell Hairston is a long and rangy cornerback prospect with a well-built frame for the position at 5'11" and 189 pounds. Known for his ball skills and high turnover rate, Hairston has shown the ability to capitalize on opportunities and plays with good instincts. His size and awareness make him an intriguing option for NFL teams seeking a cornerback who can contribute in multiple coverage schemes.

Hairston excels in press coverage, where his long arms allow him to get hands on receivers and disrupt routes early. He's adept at riding receivers downfield and staying in phase when given a cushion. His vision and awareness highlight his zone coverage abilities, as he does a great job of reading the quarterback's eyes while tracking threats. Hairston is opportunistic, often looking to capitalize on tipped or overthrown passes. However, his speed is only above average, and faster receivers can stretch him vertically. His footwork can also be inconsistent at times, leading to wasted steps out of breaks and limiting his burst in tight coverage.

Though he's more than a willing tackler, Hairston's physicality in tackling is inconsistent, particularly in the open field. While he's capable of blitzing and contributing against the run, his tackling leaves much to be desired, and he tends to shy away from contact at times. His lack of physicality when tackling could limit his effectiveness in specific defensive schemes that require corners to play a more aggressive role against the run.

Maxwell Hairston projects as a day two pick with the potential to develop into a high-level contributor in the NFL. His combination of length, press coverage skills, and zone awareness makes him an intriguing option for teams that play a lot of zone or press-man coverage. However, his inconsistent footwork and tackling ability will need refinement at the next level. With proper development, Hairston could become a solid starting cornerback in the NFL.

GRADE: 7.6 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 40

POSITION RANK: CB6

PRO COMPARISON: Rasul Douglas

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.