30 most important Bills players of 2025: No. 15 Max Hairston

As the Buffalo Bills prepare for the 2025 NFL season, we'll take a look at the most important contributors on their roster. They have a ton of cornerstone players who will be returning for another shot at bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo, and they'll have help from some new additions as well.

Leading up to the season, we will be counting down the top 30 most important players on the roster. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to what they'll offer in 2025, and tackle the most pressing questions surrounding them this coming year.

Next up on the countdown is Max Hairston.

Background

Position: Cornerback

Age at start of season: 22

Experience: Rookie

2025 cap hit: $2,774,178

2024 recap

Max Hairston had a bit of a down year in 2024 at Kentucky as he was forced to miss five games with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. Yet, he was still named second team All-SEC in 2024, as he was in 2023. He returned three interceptions for touchdowns in his career with the Wildcats. Parlay his college production with a stellar showing at the NFL Combine, where he ran a blazing fast 4.28-second 40-yard dash, and you can see why the Bills were high on him.

2025 outlook

Hairston has a big opportunity in front of him with the CB2 role up for grabs after the departure of Rasul Douglas in free agency. He will have to fend off a hungry veteran in Tre'Davious White as well as other young guns aiming for a starting spot on the defense. Given his elite athleticism and his ability to play both man and zone, he has a good opportunity to pick up steam throughout training camp and the preseason and be ready to contribute come the regular season.

Biggest question: Is he ready to be an every-down CB at the NFL level?

Hairston, although he was a first-round pick, still has a lot to prove to the coaching staff and his teammates in terms of being a reliable player on the outside. Just a few years ago, the Bills took CB Kaiir Elam in the first round, and he never was able to gain the trust of coaches. Consistency will be key for Hairston. In last year's playoff loss, the Bills looked all out of sorts when Christian Benford was forced to leave the game. The team is looking to avoid that situation, and if Hairston can become a difference maker as a rookie it would answer a big question on the defense.

30 Most Important Bills of 2025

Check back as we continue to countdown on our list of the 30 most important Bills ahead of the 2025 season.

No. 30 DT T.J. Sanders, No. 29 LB Dorian Williams, No. 28 DT Larry Ogunjobi, No. 27 Alec Anderson, No. 26 DE A.J. Epenesa, No. 25 DT DaQuan Jones, No. 24 TE Dawson Knox, No. 23 WR Elijah Moore, No. 22 WR Joshua Palmer, No. 21 S Cole Bishop, No. 20 K Tyler Bass, No. 19 WR Keon Coleman, No. 18 G David Edwards, No. 17 DE Joey Bosa, No. 16 O'Cyrus Torrence.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Maxwell Hairston No. 15 among 30 most important Bills players in 2025