ORCHARD PARK — Maxwell Hairston might never be accused of being an enforcer, but doesn’t want to be a pile inspector.
Hairston’s biggest concern coming out of Kentucky was his tackling ability. Whether it was a willingness or technique, the physical part of the game wasn’t considered Hairston’s strong suit.
As a result, the Buffalo Bills provided a bit of a surprise when they selected him 30th overall Thursday in the NFL draft. Throughout Sean McDermott’s tenure as coach and general manager Brandon Beane’s comments during the offseason, the Bills have made it clear that they expect cornerbacks in their defense to tackle.
Hairston had 12 missed tackles over his last two college seasons, including six in seven games last year. But McDermott simply wants a player who is willing to get physical and willing to improve as a tackler.
That’s what Hairston claims to want also. In his first appearance in Orchard Park Friday, Hairston brought his entire family, he FaceTimed quarterback Josh Allen and told former Kentucky teammate Ray Davis he was moving in.
Having visited the Bills during one of their allotted 30 pre-draft visits, Hairston remembered the facility and was thrilled to show his family around his new workplace. But he was also ready to get to work.
“I’m definitely somebody who wants to tackle. I want to get my nose dirty,” Hariston said. “It’s just being consistent in my technique and really following what the coaches taught me. Short stride, your knee to his hip and just running through the guy.”
Tackling ability might be related to his size. Of the 40 cornerbacks drafted in the first round over the last decade, only 10 were 5-foot-11 or shorter. Only four weighed under 185 pounds at the NFL scouting combine.
Hairston is one of three to fall into both categories. It worked out in the other two instances, with Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon being named a Pro Bowler in both of his two NFL seasons, while Cleveland’s Denzel Ward is a four-time Pro Bowler.
Measuring at 5-11 and 183 pounds, Beane insisted Hairston was over 190 now and could still run his 4.28-second 40-yard dash, the fastest at the combine this year. Taking a slender cornerback worked out for the Bills in 2017, when they took Tre’Davious White 27th overall.
White is listed at 5-11, 192 and he’s a player that Hairston is excited to work with having watched him growing up. White missed 30 tackles during his first four seasons and still managed to get two All-Pro selections, two Pro Bowl selections and a $69 million extension.
“Did (Hairston) get big-boyed once in a whale and bounce off? Yes,” Beane said. “… We’ll continue to get him in our weight program and get him sturdy. But it’s not a lack of effort.”
Lack of size might factor into his ability to play man coverage against bigger receivers in the NFL, especially in the red zone. Beane was quick to note that if Hairston was 6-foot, 200 pounds and maintained all his other traits, he wouldn’t have been available at the end of the first round.
But Hairston feels confident he can play man and zone. The Bills have been a predominantly zone defensive team, but began to dabble more in man late in the season when they encountered teams with faster receivers.
Hairston’s speed and 39 ½-inch vertical leap should allow the Bills to play more man in spots. The other five cornerbacks on the roster average 4.53 in the 40 and none of Buffalo’s secondary starters against the Kansas City Chiefs last year in the AFC championship game ran faster than 4.5.
Ultimately, the Bills like Hairston’s ability to create turnovers, making six interceptions in the last two seasons.
“I feel like I’m so versatile that I can come out, play man, or I can play zone,” Hairston said. “I can play off-man, I can play press-man, I can disguise. So I’m happy to just be able to go into an organization with a beautiful scheme that’ll allow me to get the ball back.”