By CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Columnist
One of the most stunning revelations corollary to last year’s NFL Draft was several teams admitting they did not have 32 players with first-round grades and that wasn’t the exception … it was the rule.
Indeed, Bills general manager Brandon Beane conceded that in most drafts, he and his staff have only 24 or 25 players with first-round grades.
He didn’t say whether one of them was Keon Coleman, for whom Beane traded down to the first pick of the second round from Kansas City — No. 33 overall — but he took some heat for it as, after one year, the Chiefs got more from Xavier Worthy, whom they acquired in the deal, than Buffalo got from Coleman.
We don’t know where the Bills ranked cornerback Maxwell Hairston from Kentucky their first-round pick — 30th overall —Thursday night in Green Bay, but we do know he fills a position of need.
My draft guide of choice this year was Lindy’s and here’s how it assessed Hairston, the 5-11, 175-pound speedster (4.37 40-yard dash).
Overview: Hairston got his first career reps in his redshirt sophomore season and showed himself to be a player to keep an eye on in the Vanderbilt game when he returned two interceptions for touchdowns, setting a school record. He became a team captain and though his 2024 season was hampered by injury, in his seven games he added another pick-six.
Strengths: Extremely fast, keeps pace with any and all receivers. Puts his hand out consistently to knock the ball out of receivers’ hands. Works hard to get tackles.
Weaknesses: Built like a rail and will have a hard time defending physical receivers. Hard to trust in his run defense.Not great in the press game, his jam is weak and receivers can continue their routes without much trouble. Tackling form is pretty rough and the lack of requisite strength makes it difficult to bring guys down.
Pro view: Hairston warrants a Day 2 selection (second or third round).
The Bills have two second-round picks tonight at 56 and 62 with the second and third rounds commencing at 7 o’clock.
IF YOU’RE WONDERING, Lindy’s listed 22 players who were actually taken in the first round. Hairston wasn’t mentioned in the first two rounds. The biggest surprise not selected was Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
