The Buffalo Bills used six of their nine picks from the 2025 draft on the defensive side of the ball. Of those selections, the first five not only were defensive-minded, but they all have expectations to make an impact at the start of the season.
One player should hit the field earlier than most, though.
First round cornerback Maxwell Hairston was taken by the Bills to bolster their secondary and be the finishing touch on a unit that is expected to compete for a Super Bowl.
His draft status alone has NFL reporter Daniel Flick believing that Hairston will be a Day 1 starter for the Bills moving forward.
"Hairston won’t be handed the starting No. 2 cornerback job—he will compete with Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson— but there’s a strong chance the 30th pick hits the field in Week 1 opposite Christian Benford," Flick wrote. "Skinny yet explosive, Hairston is a proficient cover corner in both man and zone coverage due to his quick feet, fluid hips and standout instincts.
"He has a history of creating turnovers—he had five interceptions and two pick-sixes in 2023—and could be an early source of playmaking in Buffalo’s secondary."
Hairston and Benford could end up being one of the better combo of cornerbacks in the league. ... with the latter player already approaching stardom.
To have a young group of defenders able to step up and dominate - or even survive - in a loaded AFC class of quarterbacks? That is something every contender hopes to have ...
And it's why the Bills need the Kentucky product to make an immediate impact.