2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Maxwell Hairston (CB – Kentucky)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Maxwell Hairston

Maxwell Hairston (CB – Kentucky)

6-foot-1 | 186 Pounds

Background

Maxwell Hairston redshirted in 2021 and then played sparingly in 2022 — 24 snaps, per Pro Football Focus (PFF) — before taking over a starting job in 2023. He put together an impressive season with 68 tackles, five interceptions (two touchdowns) and six breakups. Was limited to seven games this past year due to a shoulder injury, finishing with 19 tackles, a pick-six and four breakups.

Positives

Was highly productive as a first-year SEC starter in 2023. Solidly-built corner with the size to play on the boundary at the next level. Typically lined up in off-coverage, with a bit of press-man coverage mixed in. Good pre-snap communicator. Hairston shows good balance and knee-bend in his backpedal and was asked to backpedal more often than usual for college corners.

Does a nice job of getting depth to keep the play in front of him. Processes route combinations well from zone coverage. His ability to anticipate combinations is impressive. Clean transitions to driving on a spot, with solid closing speed to deliver hits or break-up throws. Uses his hands well to feel and stay connected to routes when pattern-matching.

Hairston’s ball skills are impressive. Does a nice job of baiting quarterbacks into throws and capitalizing, with soft hands to make the interception. Dangerous with the ball in his hands, having scored three pick-sixes over his career. Attacks blocks with aggression and power in the run game. Was a very reliable tackler in 2023. Plays the game with a chippy temperament.

Negatives

Hairston’s shoulder injury will require further examination during the pre-draft process. A solid athlete, but might struggle to turn and run with opposing receivers downfield from press-man coverage — something he wasn’t asked to do much of during the games reviewed.

Struggles to recover when he sits on underneath routes, as his burst isn’t the most explosive. Can occasionally get sucked in against the run. Was a very reliable tackler in 2023, but his effectiveness plummeted this year, possibly in part due to his shoulder injury. Can also occasionally lapse into delivering hits rather than wrapping up with technique.

Summary

An instinctive off/zone corner who showed much better route recognition/anticipatory skills than anticipated as a first-year starter back in 2023. Hairston does a nice job of keeping the play in front of him, diagnosing route combinations and driving on a spot to deliver hits or intercept throws, with reliable tackling skills.

Unfortunately, Hairston wasn’t able to replicate that success this past season, as he dealt with a shoulder injury and had issues with missed tackles. While he might not have ideal speed, fluidity and burst for press-man coverage, zone-heavy teams could give him second-round consideration if they’re confident he can recover his 2023 form. Either way, it’d be surprising if he slipped past Day 2 given his polish, awareness and ball skills.

Projection: Round 2/Round 3

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