It was a positional deficiency that stuck out noticeably heading into night one of the 2025 NFL draft. After a season that saw the Bills rank 29th in third down defense and surrender the fifth-highest completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks in the league (68.4%), getting a starting caliber cornerback who can execute man coverage assignments was a top priority.
Fortunately for Buffalo's personnel boss, the board fell in such a way that the Bills could address the coverage need on the back end. For just the third time in eight drafts Beane elected to stick and pick at 30 selecting Kentucky CB Max Hairston.
"You love when the grade matches the value and matches the need too," Beane said. "You just don't know how it's going to fall. And again, that's why sometimes you make the decision if the grade doesn't match, maybe you trade back. And so, us staying there told you we believe he fits that value. And why trade back, especially when it's a position of need."
Hairston was a player the Bills had a first-round grade on, so to see him still on the board when they were on the clock at 30 made for an easy decision, even though there were teams behind them trying to move back into round one.
"As far as team trades, we were having conversations with people more behind us with people wanting to come up," Beane said. "Some of the teams that ended up coming up were checking in, but we didn't want to commit to that until we saw what was there on the board. And yeah, we had options to go back, but we had a good grade on Max, and we were excited that he was there."
Beane, as has been his practice, made efforts to fortify the cornerback position prior to the draft, bringing back a couple of former players in Dane Jackson and Tre'Davious White. And though Jackson was a capable spot starter, and White was an All-Pro caliber player in their first stints with Buffalo, it's clear that the Bills felt they needed one particular quality they felt was lacking in their defensive backs room.
"We do feel adding (Hairston) gives us something that we don't have in that room currently, with the speed that he runs," said Beane.
Hairston ran the fastest time at the NFL Combine last month with a blistering 4.28 in the 40-yard dash.
It's safe to say that the Bills defensive backs room has never had that kind of speed. The fastest 40 time of Bills cornerbacks in the last 40 years has been 4.38, run by both Nate Clements (2001, 1st round) and Ronald Darby (2015, 2nd round).
Facing receivers the likes of Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Xavier Worthy every season, Buffalo's personnel and coaching department clearly felt adding a player with elite play speed was essential.
"We think first off he can match up," Beane said of Hairston. "He's got the speed and enough size. His size is not his number one thing, but he'll be fine there. He can play off and he'll continue to work on that, but he can play with zone eyes, and so that's part of what we like about him is the versatility. But the speed he brings… it's rare to have recovery speed like that. Some guys run track fast, but they don't play fast. You saw 4.3 speed on film as a player, and you're always looking to add speed, as long as the football player matches it."
Whether Hairston is able to earn the vacant starting role opposite the entrenched Christian Benford remains to be seen. Jackson and White will be his competition.
"We feel good that we've got guys there," said Beane. "If Max is not ready, it'll be an open competition, like we do everywhere, of who will win that job opposite Christian and may the best man win. Even if he doesn't win it right away, maybe more time on task he gets in there later in the year."
Buffalo currently has two picks in round two at pick 56 and 62 respectively for day two of the draft on Friday evening. Defensive tackle and edge rusher are two other positions to which the Bills could gravitate. But again, picking so late in the round will make it hard to know what value will be left on their board until they're close to being on the clock. Round two opens at 7pm on Friday.
Scroll to see the photos from inside the Bills draft room during Thursday's first round as they select Maxwell Hairston.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Bobby Babich. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terry Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Terry Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Matthew Pegula, Kim Pegula, Terry Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terrance Gray, Bobby Babich. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Malik Boyd, Matt Bazirgan. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Terry Pegula, Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Briane Gaine. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terrance Gray, Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Pete Guelli. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terrance Gray. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terry Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Andrea Gosper. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Malik Boyd. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Matt Bazirgan. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Pete Guelli. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Terry Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Laura Pegula, Pete Guelli. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott, Terry Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Asil Mulbah. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
RJ Webb. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brian Gaine. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott, Terry Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Terrance Gray. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terrance Gray. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Joe Danna, Chrtis Tabor. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Bobby Babich, Joe Danna. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Pete Guelli. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Joe Brady. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Joe Brady, Bobby Babich. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Jahmile Addae. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Bobby Babich. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Pete Guelli. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terry Pegula, Matthew Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Pete Guelli. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Laura Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Bobby Babich. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Terrance Gray. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott, Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Bobby Babich. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terry Pegula, Pete Guelli, Laura Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Bobby Babich. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terrance Gray, Bobby Babich. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Jahmile Addae. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Bobby Babich. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Sean McDermott. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Pete Guelli. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Laura Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Matt Barzigan. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Malik Boyd, Terrance Gray. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Jahmile Addae. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Terry Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
Brandon Beane, Terry Pegula, Matthew Pegula, Brian Gaine, Pete Guelli, Bobby Babich, Laura Pegula. Scenes from the Buffalo Bills draft room during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Buffalo Bills Training Center on April 24, 2025.
