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A review and breakdown of first-round predictions for the Green Bay Packers in final 2025 mock drafts from a few of the most prominent analysts in the business:
The mock draft: Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
The pick: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
The reasoning: "The playmaking cover corner is the ideal ballhawk to play in Jeff Hafley’s system. Hairston excels as a “see ball, get ball” defender with superb instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills."
Our breakdown: A two-year starter in the SEC who broke up 16 passes, intercepted six passes and forced three fumbles over his final 20 games. Hairston is small by Packers standards at 183 pounds, and he missed five games in 2024 to a shoulder injury. His speed and athleticism are big pluses, and the Packers need to upgrade the talent at cornerback. But with a lanky frame and questionable play strength, is Hairston too close to Carrington Valentine as a player? It's fair to wonder. It's possible the Packers will have to stray from some of their tendencies if they want a cornerback early in this draft class. Hairston is small but might be the best fit overall at this point in the draft, and he'd give the Packers another feisty, ultra-competitive coverage player in the secondary. Note: the Packers took Hairston in front of Mykel Williams, Matthew Golden, Kenneth Grant and Josh Simmons in this mock draft from Brooks.
Draft profile from Lance Zierlein: "Slender outside cornerback with long arms and impressive ball production. Hairston is capable of playing all forms of zone and man coverage. 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. 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."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers get Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston in Bucky Brooks final mock draft
Continue reading...
The mock draft: Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
The pick: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
The reasoning: "The playmaking cover corner is the ideal ballhawk to play in Jeff Hafley’s system. Hairston excels as a “see ball, get ball” defender with superb instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills."
Our breakdown: A two-year starter in the SEC who broke up 16 passes, intercepted six passes and forced three fumbles over his final 20 games. Hairston is small by Packers standards at 183 pounds, and he missed five games in 2024 to a shoulder injury. His speed and athleticism are big pluses, and the Packers need to upgrade the talent at cornerback. But with a lanky frame and questionable play strength, is Hairston too close to Carrington Valentine as a player? It's fair to wonder. It's possible the Packers will have to stray from some of their tendencies if they want a cornerback early in this draft class. Hairston is small but might be the best fit overall at this point in the draft, and he'd give the Packers another feisty, ultra-competitive coverage player in the secondary. Note: the Packers took Hairston in front of Mykel Williams, Matthew Golden, Kenneth Grant and Josh Simmons in this mock draft from Brooks.
The player info
- CB Maxwell Hairston
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 183 (potential red flag)
- Age: 21
- 40-yard dash: 4.28
- Vertical leap: 39.5"
- Broad jump: 10-9
- Three-cone: DNP
- Short shuttle: DNP
- Bench press: DNP
- RAS: 9.63
- Pre-draft visit: No
- Senior Bowl: Yes
- Consensus big board rank: 34
Draft profile from Lance Zierlein: "Slender outside cornerback with long arms and impressive ball production. Hairston is capable of playing all forms of zone and man coverage. 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. 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."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers get Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston in Bucky Brooks final mock draft
Continue reading...
