By CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Columnist
The follow-up grades of NFL teams’ drafts are almost as annoying as those unending mock drafts … and yes, several 2026 such efforts are already in print.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about what the Bills did last Thursday through Saturday.
And one thing that has surprised me is the lack of criticism of Buffalo’s first-round draft pick, Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston, rated the eighth-best cornerback in the draft.
To be sure, his No. 1 strength is speed … as in a fraction of a second behind Tyreek Hill-velocity.
But there was a rumor that Hairston was involved in a sexual harassment issue during his early days at the University of Kentucky.
Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane was asked about the accusation after Hairston was drafted and he responded as follows:
“He’s an impeccable kid … we’ve done a lot of research and I think all teams were aware of (the rumor). It was fully investigated by the school … he even volunteered to do a polygraph. It was one of those where there was zero information saying this actually happened to what the accusation was. Just like anything in this world, you can’t just take someone’s account and think that’s the truth. We fully investigated that. If there was anything to that he wouldn’t have been invited to the combine and he was at the draft (Thursday night).
Every person you talk to at Kentucky … teammates, staff, plus what we’ve done, say this is a heckuva young man … every person you ask. It’s unfortunate when things like that are attached to someone’s name and in this case it doesn’t seem anything is there.”
Beane’s answer seemed forthright and likely closed the case.
But there was another issue involving Hairston that related totally to his on-field performance.
Several weeks back, Beane was asked about traits he was seeking in a cornerback, a position of need.
He specifically mentioned tackling ability and indicated the Bills would not consider drafting a poor tackler.
And the night of the first-round telecast, ABC/ESPN commentator Nick Saban, the former Alabama coach, cited three necessary skill-sets for corners: speed, coverage ability and tackling proficiency.
Well, apparently the Bills’ didn’t read Lundy’s draft profile of Hairston.
It said under weaknesses: “Built like a rail (5-11, 175) and will have a difficult time defending physical receivers. Hard to trust in run defense. Loses the leverage battle by crumbling on first contact. His jam is weak and receivers are able to stay on track for their route without much trouble. Tackling form is pretty rough and the lack of requisite strength makes it difficult for him to bring guys down.”
And, according to Saban, if a corner doesn’t have tackling skill, he’s in big trouble.
BY NOW, Bills fans know that their team’s first five draft picks were defenders and six of the first seven. Beane took a tight end sixth, an offensive tackle eighth and a wide receiver ninth.
But it’s hard not to be a little suspicious of Buffalo taking defensive tackles T.J. Sanders of South Carolina (second round) and Kentucky’s Deone Walker (fourth round) plus edge rusher Landon Jackson of Arkansas (third round).
To be sure defensive line was a need for the Bills but it became even bigger when Beane signed edge rusher Michael Hoecht of the Rams, despite knowing he faced a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug statute. Then, doubling down, Beane signed tackle Larry Ogunjobi despite finding out that very day the former Steeler also violated the PED statute and would be suspended for six games.
Beane seemingly spent a third of his team’s draft trying to fill the void left by two players who will miss 12 games combined due to his own ill-considered signings and for which he’s gotten surprisingly little criticism.
What’s certain is this, when the suspensions are over, Buffalo will have 14 defensive linemen on the roster and, at most will keep nine or 10 … a clear case of overkill. And while Beane was enamored of Hoecht and Ogunjobi, his key acquisition was edge rusher Joey Bosa who, if he can avoid the injuries that caused him to miss 24 games the past three seasons, could be Buffalo’s main disruptor (58 sacks in his first six seasons) on the defensive front.
BEANE’S RANT
In an appearance on WGR radio Monday morning, Beane engaged host Jeremy White who complained Buffalo’s only wide receiving draftee was seventh-rounder Kaden Prather. He compared it to the 2018 draft when GR supposedly wanted Buffalo to pick quarterback Josh Rosen rather than Josh Allen.
It was uncomfortable audio to say the least.
But the reality is this. The Bills’ current wide receiving corps is Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Tyrell Shavers, KJ Hamler and Jalen Virgil. They also drafted Prather and signed free agents Joshua Palmer and Laviska Shenault Jr., However they lost Amari Cooper (at the cost of a third-round pick, the same as they lost on cornerback Rasul Douglas) and Mack Hollins.
IT’S WORTH noting that Buffalo’s last four picks in this year’s draft got some love from Lindy’s Draft Guide:
Tight end Jackson Hawes (6-4, 265), Georgia Tech, fifth round: “The Yale transfer is one of the most dominant-run-blocking tight ends in the draft. He could moonlight as an offensive tackle. Plays with a “come back with the shield or come back on it” type of temperament that coaches adore.”
Cornerback Dorian Strong (6-0, 180), Virginia Tech, sixth round: “Smart and technical, displays impressive refinement for a young cornerback. Strong stands out in zone coverage, a high IQ defender with a strong understanding of coverages. His lack of size prevented him from being a first-rounder. Greatly improved tackling.”
Offensive tackle Chase Lundt (6-7, 305), UConn, sixth round: “Combination of body control, hand usage and footwork are NFL-ready. Held his own against higher-level competition throughout his career. A developmental players with multi-position flex.”
Wide receiver Kaden Prather (6-3, 210), Maryland, seventh round: Explosive off the line and carries that quickness and energy all the way down the route. Fits the prototype of what an NFL receiver should look like. He makes hard grabs look easy. Strong separator who doesn’t rely on his frame to grab balls.”
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
