The Buffalo Bills are eager to integrate rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston into their secondary, but before the first-round pick officially begins his NFL journey, the team had to address a past sexual assault allegation involving him.
Improving the secondary was a key priority for Buffalo heading into the draft, and they wasted no time, selecting Hairston with the 30th overall pick to fill that need.
For fans unfamiliar with Hairston during the pre-draft process, his character shone through on draft night. Despite being selected after 29 other players, he enthusiastically celebrated each pick, embracing fellow draftees like a true teammate.
Still, Hairston’s path to the NFL wasn’t without complications. A sexual assault allegation from 2021 prompted additional scrutiny from teams. Bills general manager Brandon Beane publicly backed Hairston, emphasizing the team’s thorough vetting process and their belief in his character.
“He’s an outstanding young man. We looked into everything thoroughly. In today’s world, you can’t just accept a single narrative as fact. Everyone we talked to spoke highly of him,” Beane said. “It’s unfortunate when someone gets linked to something like this, especially when the evidence doesn’t support it.”
Although such matters always give teams pause, Hairston was never charged, and the case details were never made public.
Now, with that behind him, Hairston can turn his attention to making an impact in a Bills secondary that struggled last season, allowing 226.1 passing yards per game — one of the worst marks in the NFL.
Buffalo is hoping to shore up its defense to complement its high-powered offense led by MVP quarterback Josh Allen. Hairston’s NFL chapter officially begins in May with the start of rookie minicamp.
