As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the Buffalo Bills are still far from done this offseason. They still have some holes on the roster, but one area of strength is at cornerback.
They’ll likely add some depth through the draft. As things currently stand, though, the starters at the position will be Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, and Dee Alford.
While Benford and Alford are established veterans in the league, Hairston is the wild card among them. However, under new defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard, Hairston is poised for a breakout season.
Hairston Flashed Plenty of Potential
After being selected 30th in the 2025 NFL Draft, Hairston went into Bills training camp fighting for a starting job.
Unfortunately for Hairston, he suffered a knee injury and started the season on injured reserve. By the time he came back, the Bills were already comfortable starting Tre’Davious White opposite of Benford.
While Hairston only played in 11 games and started three due to injury, he made the most of his opportunities. This was most evident during his second-career game against the Chiefs, where he was tasked with covering Xavier Worthy.
Throughout the game, he kept up stride-for-stride with Worthy, who owns the record for fastest 40-yard dash.
For the game, Worthy was held to just three catches for 23 yards. Hairston’s most impressive play came when he intercepted Patrick Mahomes after sticking with Worthy on a deep ball.
Like most rookie corners, there were growing pains for Hairston, but the flashes of potential he showed outweighed the struggles.
What he put on tape should make him a prime candidate to start alongside Christian Benford and Dee Alford.
What Hairston Brings to the Defense
Due to an ankle injury that held Hairston out of the playoffs, many people forget just how talented he is.
Coming out of Kentucky, Hairston wasn’t the prototypical corner the Bills usually target in the draft. However, when selected, he instantly added a new style of play to the position that they had been lacking.
With a 4.28 40-yard dash and a natural ability to find the ball in the air, Hairston had the tools to excel in off-man zone coverage.
While this was something he excelled at, he was still strong in a zone-heavy scheme under Sean McDermott as a rookie last season.
The versatility in Hairston’s game will allow him to acclimate to whatever kind of scheme the new coaching staff wants to run.
When it comes to tackling and assisting in rush defense, there is still a lot of room for growth with Hairston. The good news is that these are skills that are much easier to coach into a player.
If these are the biggest worries with a corner, then they’re likely in a good spot with their development.
All the attributes that you can’t coach into a player are ones that Hairston already has. If given more snaps this upcoming season, he’ll be able to develop into the perfect corner alongside Christian Benford.
The Bills’ Future
The most intriguing aspect of a potential Max Hairston breakout is that it would lock the Bills’ corners in for at least the next three seasons.
Christian Benford is entering year one of a four-year extension, Dee Alford was just signed to a three-year deal this offseason, and Hairston will only be in year two of his rookie contract.
These three corners still need to play games together, but they have the potential to make Brandon Beane’s job much easier in the next few years.
Knowing the team has such an important position on the defensive side of the ball figured out will allow them to allocate more resources to keeping their star quarterback happy and healthy.
The Bills should trust in Maxwell Hairston to break out next season, not just because they spent a first-round pick on him, but because he fits any style of defense Joe Brady and Jim Leonhard want to run.
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