Buffalo’s top selection in this year’s NFL Draft, cornerback Maxwell Hairston, has begun his process of transitioning to compete a the professional level.
The Bills‘ first-round draft pick out of Kentucky at No. 30 overall, Hairston, is among the draft picks, first-year players, undrafted free agents, and the 26 players on a tryout. Despite being a top selection, Hairston faces the most competition of any position group.
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Buffalo has 11 defensive backs working with Bills cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae to comptete for a roster spot.
“It was exciting – finally got out there (to) get some action,” Hairston said about his first rookie minicamp. “It was a lot, just adjusting from the college game to this, but I enjoyed myself. A lot to work on, but just so good to get my feet wet again.”
Bills running back Ray Davis, a second year pro and former Wildcat teammate of Hairston, is someone the young corner reeached out to for help streamlining his learning process.
“I’m just taking everything that I learned from the guys that have been here before me and trying to apply it to my game,” Hairston added. “Right now, I’m just trying to execute everything that my coach is teaching me.”
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Seventh round selection, receiver Kaden Prather, matched up against him on offiice during practice. Hairston made an impression.
“Max is the guy,” Prather said, per The Buffalo News. “Fast, patient, and most importantly, smart. He’s an even better guy. You think of first-rounders, and you think, ‘Oh, they too cool,’ but he hangs around with us. He’s a really good guy. We had a couple matchups, and we were going back and forth. It’s good competition.”
The Bills also drafted Ohio State corner Jordan Hancock and Virginia Tech corner Dorian Strong, with Hairston and Hancock having bonded previously at the NFL scouting combine, so
“I was like a little kid trying to go to sleep before Christmas”, Hairston continued about his mini camp experience. “To still go out there and be confident and know what I have, know what to do and execute. It’s all just a learning process.”
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills’ Maxwell Hairston on first minicamp: ‘It was exciting’