Mile High Report
Hairston is a potential first round pick and ran a blistering 4.28 40-time at the Combine.
According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos hosted potential first-round pick, Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston, for a top-30 pre-draft visit. He is viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft and could be a dark horse option for the Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
First, a reminder or refresher on what exactly a top 30 visit is. Each NFL team, in the days and weeks before the start of the NFL Draft, is allowed to invite up to 30 different prospects to come in for a job interview. From there, they will work them out, show them the facility, meet with coaches, and essentially have a job interview. It is just another step in the long scouting process leading up to the NFL Draft.
Hairston is a 6’0, 183-pound cornerback out of Kentucky who grades out as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft. At the Combine, Hairston ran a 4.28 40-time, had a 39 1⁄2 inch vertical jump, and a 10’9” broad jump. He played a total of three seasons at Kentucky and was an impact shutdown cornerback for them. During his three seasons, he totaled 89 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 6 interceptions, and 16 pass deflections.
The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, has Hairston graded as his 35th overall player in the 2025 NFL Draft and ranks him as the 4th best cornerback in the draft.
A two-year starter at Kentucky, Hairston was the field cornerback in defensive coordinator Brad White’s scheme with a balanced mix of man and zone. He put himself on the NFL radar with an SEC-best five interceptions in 2023 and tied the school record with three career pick-sixes. A fluid mover with A-plus speed, Hairston moves fairly effortlessly in all areas of the field. He plays to his help in man-to-man coverage while also showing conviction and awareness in Cover 3. He is a natural at making plays at the catch point, but he’s also more scrappy than strong, which will show against physical NFL receivers and in run support.
Overall, Hairston is a competitive, lanky athlete who feels routes developing around him and plays with the reactionary movements and ball skills to fit a variety of coverages. If he makes the necessary improvements as a tackler, he has the talent to become a capable NFL starter early in his career.
This is an interesting one since cornerback has not been viewed as a big need for the Broncos. They have Pat Surtain II as the Defensive Player of the Year, and corners Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian all played solidly last year. So, showing some interest in a highly ranked cornerback is interesting. Now, a top-30 visit doesn’t automatically mean they’re in love with the prospect, but it is still interesting nonetheless.
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