The long time draft expert believes the Buffalo Bills will be focusing on the defensive side of the ball early and often in the draft.
The prevailing theory for the Buffalo Bills is that the team is going to use an early-round draft pick this April on either a top receiver or cornerback.
ESPN’s top draft analyst Mel Kiper has a prediction when it comes to that.
He thinks the Bills are going to focus more on the cornerback position and draft Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston to replace free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas who remains on the open market.
“Hairston can fly. He ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the combine, the fastest time at the event this year. And he has the hands to make plays, with six picks over the past two seasons,” said Kiper in his post-pick analysis. “Teams were able to throw against Buffalo last season, completing 68.5% of their passes into coverage. That was fifth worst in the league, and worst among playoff teams.”
Hairston is the kind of cover corner with the speed to try and find a way to make an immediate impact on a Bills team that can look for offense wherever they can get it at this point.
The fact that Hairston played in a competitive conference in the SEC is just something that should only improve his stock throughout the draft process.
“He anticipates well with his eyes forward and has the burst to take the ball away, posting six interceptions (three returned for TDs) over his last 20 games,” Lance Zuerlein said on NFL.com of Hairston. “He stays connected in man coverage with good agility and fluidity but needs to do a better job of locating the football downfield. He will struggle to contest big wideouts and his run support will turn off some teams. Hairston has the athleticism and on-ball talent to become a starter, but he needs to prove he can hold up to the rigors and physicality of the NFL game.”
Buffalo could use a quality corner in the first round and they get it here according to Kiper.