Orchard Park, N.Y. — Maxwell Hairston made a mistake on one play during 11-on-11 in Tuesday’s Buffalo Bills practice at Organized Team Activities.
Bills cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae gave the 21-year-old immediate feedback, and Hairston walked off the field and hit himself in the helmet three times.
All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White was watching on from the sideline. After giving Hairston a moment to himself, White walked over to the rookie and gave him a small pat on the helmet.
The moment may not hold much significance in the grand scheme of an NFL season, but White and Hairston are battling for the open No. 2 cornerback job opposite Christian Benford.
White is no stranger to starting games for the Bills. He started 82 regular-season games for Buffalo before the two sides parted following the 2023 season. After stops in Los Angeles and Baltimore last year, White re-signed with Buffalo in April.
When White arrived, the Bills’ depth chart at cornerback had Benford at the top and a bunch of question marks. The Bills had already brought back former starter Dane Jackson, who only lasted one season in Carolina before getting released. Ja’Marcus Ingram has played some for Buffalo the past few seasons, but neither player had a lock on the No. 2 job.
White wasn’t on the roster a week before the Bills drafted Hairston in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. That pick set the stage for the summer cornerback battle.
White was asked on Tuesday after practice how he’s approaching his relationship with Hairston. He remembers the veteran players who helped him when he was a first-round cornerback in 2017. He plans on offering the same guidance for Hairston - if the rookie wants it.
“It’s just each one teach one,” White said. “Being a young corner in this league, it’s a lot of pressure, especially being a first-round pick. ... So just me being a guy that’s been in that position, whereas I got here, we had Kyle Williams, Lorenzo Alexander, guys like that.
“So I can understand the position he’s in. So the only thing I could do is just give him little nuggets in his ear here and there. I just want to kind of slow play it and let him know, like, anything he needs, any questions, I’m here to be a resource for sure.”
Hairston’s first big test came in Tuesday’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs) practice. Let’s get to the observations.
Hairston vs. Keon Coleman entertains
Hairston has been slowly working into team drills over the first few weeks. He saw the most snaps he’s had all spring on Tuesday, and there were plenty of reps worth studying over the next few days.
The box office rep came in a one-on-one matchup against second-year receiver Keon Coleman. Hairston lost the receiver for a moment early in his route, and backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky noticed right away. That’s when Hairston’s speed took over. The rookie erased Coleman’s separation and tracked him down before the ball landed. Hairston jumped into the air from behind Coleman and batted the ball down to the ground.
A few minutes later, Colemand and Hairston were matched up again. Coleman found another opening in the defense and this time hauled in the pass for a nice gain.
Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich has noticed the game slowing down for Hairston in the past few practices.
“I think what we’re starting to see is Max playing faster and utilizing his speed,” Babich said. “Because his processing is starting to slow down a little bit in the event that he’s grasping what we are throwing at him. There’s some flashes here and there of it, but everybody, all those rookies, we got to get them playing as fast as they possibly can.”
Tyrell Shavers has had a nice few weeks. He made a one-handed grab today working against Hairston, who had pretty good coverage. Shavers’ size and versatility makes him a fun receiver to watch this summer. He’s got his work cut out trying to make the 53-man roster but when he got his chance last year he made a big play.
The Dorian Williams conundrum
Williams was the best defender on the field for the Bills in practice on Tuesday. He had a would-be sack (players aren’t in pads and rushers pull up before getting to the quarterback) and a pass breakup in coverage.
Williams’ short-area quickness is a part of his game that has steadily improved since his rookie season in 2023. On the pass breakup, Trubisky was looking to dump the ball down to the running back, and Williams diagnosed, reacted, closed on the back, and broke up the pass.
Getting Williams onto the field in 2025 is going to be a challenge for Bills coach Sean McDermott. He’ll likely be Matt Milano’s backup in a defense that plays just two linebackers for most of the snaps. But Milano is 30 and has dealt with multiple injuries over the past few seasons. Williams could at least be used in a rotational role to keep Milano fresh for the playoffs.
The Bills could also shift their identity somewhat and deploy three linebackers more. That would require All-Pro slot cornerback Taron Johnson to come off the field more, and McDermott has never been open to that idea outside of a few specific matchups. McDermott played Johnson just 61% of snaps in the playoffs against Baltimore and their massive running back Derrick Henry.
Johnson tore his labrum last season and had offseason surgery, the cornerback told The Buffalo News. If the Bills want to preserve some of their aging defenders, Williams could be a key piece in making that happen.
Elijah Moore continues to make plays
The speed factor is impossible to miss when Moore is running routes in team drills. He broke off another big-time play on a throw from third-string quarterback Mike White after multiple catches in practice last week.
This time, Moore found an opening at the second level and burned through a hole left vacant by defensive backs Daequan Hardy and Te’Cory Couch. Once Moore gets into the open field, his speed is hard to deal with. White made sure to reference Moore’s twitch as a route runner after practice.
No Josh Allen; Josh Palmer leaves early
Allen got married over the weekend and was one of several Bills players not participating in practice. Right tackle Spencer Brown, safety Damar Hamlin, linebacker Baylon Spector, and edge rusher Joey Bosa were all present but didn’t participate. Cornerback Cam Lewis and running back James Cook weren’t at practice.
Palmer took part in individual work but left the field for about 10 minutes or so and went into the field house. When he came back - in uniform - he only watched team drills the rest of the way.
Javon Solomon shows early juice
The line play is hard to evaluate during the spring. The players aren’t in pads and most are directed to stop in their tracks once they get close to a red jersey.
Solomon didn’t blow up any plays but his get off was noticeable in practice. With Bosa nursing a calf injury and new acquisition Michael Hoecht forced to sit for the first six games with a suspension, the door is wide open for Solomon to earn a role in the rotation to start the season. He needs a strong summer but he’s gotten off to a fast start.