Maxwell Hairston
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The Bills are not commenting on a recent lawsuit filed against Maxwell Hairston
The Buffalo Bills turned some heads when they selected Kentucky Wildcats cornerback Maxwell Hairston with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While Hairston is undoubtedly a talented player, he had previously been accused of sexual assault during his time in college, although he was never formally charged.
That changed on Wednesday, as Hairston found himself at the center of a civil lawsuit stemming from the incident, which allegedly took place back in 2021. Buffalo was aware of Hairston’s off-field issues before drafting him, with general manager Brandon Beane saying the team fully investigated the situation. However, things have taken a turn now that a suit has been filed against the 2025 first-round pick.
Bills Decline to Comment on Maxwell Hairston Lawsuit
Hairston spent three years in college with Kentucky, and it didn’t take long for him to establish himself as one of the top cornerback prospects in the nation. Hairston barely played as a freshman, but he earned a starting job in 2023, and he never looked back. In 13 games, Hairston racked up 68 tackles, five interceptions, two of which he returned for scores, and six passes batted.
It looked like the Wildcats’ star was on a fast track to be the top cornerback in the 2025 draft class, but he struggled with injuries in 2024, playing in just seven games. During that action, Hairston picked up 19 tackles, one interception (which he also returned for a touchdown), four passes batted, and one sack.
Hairston has the potential to become a lockdown corner in the NFL, but his off-field issues are hovering over his head. Now, he has a civil lawsuit that he will have to focus on, and he could end up facing punishment from the league over his actions. When asked about Hairston’s legal situation, a spokesperson for Buffalo declined to comment.
“Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback and first-round draft pick Maxwell Hairston has been named in a civil lawsuit over an alleged sexual assault case when Hairston was a student-athlete at the University of Kentucky,” 7 News WKBW reported. “The lawsuit states that Hairston engaged in non-consensual sexual contact with the woman in her on-campus dorm room back in 2021 … A spokesperson for the Bills tells 7 News the team is not commenting on the civil suit.”
Bills Face Difficult Situation with Maxwell Hairston
Cornerback Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky
GettyCornerback Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected thirtieth overall pick by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo has a deep cornerback depth chart, but they were hoping for Hairston to make an immediate impact as a rookie. That could still ultimately end up happening, but his status has to be considered up in the air for the time being. Christian Benford and Taron Johnson appear in line to be the starting corners, with Dane Jackson, Tre’Davious White, and Cam Davis also factoring into the mix.
For now, the Bills will continue to collect the facts about Hairston’s lawsuit, which is something that the league will also be keeping close tabs on. It’s an unfortunate situation for all parties involved, and hopefully, the proper resolution will be reached in due time.