The 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone, and Kentucky football once again made its presence felt — both during the draft and in the busy hours that followed.
Two Wildcats heard their names called on draft weekend, both landing with the same team, while five more earned opportunities as undrafted free agents or minicamp invitees. Though only time will tell who makes a final roster, each player now has a shot to prove themselves at the next level.
🐃 Buffalo goes all-in with the Bluegrass state
The Buffalo Bills are loading up on Kentucky defenders, selecting both of UK’s draft picks:
Maxwell Hairston, a shutdown corner from Detroit, went 30th overall in the first round, making him the highest-drafted Wildcat since Josh Allen in 2019. Known for his ball-hawking instincts and SEC-leading interception numbers, Hairston gives Buffalo an immediate boost in its secondary.
Deone Walker, the massive interior lineman out of Detroit, joined Hairston in Buffalo as the 109th overall pick in the fourth round. At 6'6" and over 340 pounds, Walker’s combination of size, strength, and quickness made him a disruptive force in the middle of Kentucky’s defense and a value pick for the Bills.
🤝 Undrafted free agent signings
While only two Wildcats were drafted, several others didn’t have to wait long for phone calls once the draft ended. Here’s where the rest of Kentucky’s NFL hopefuls landed:
T Marques Cox – The 6'5", 310-pound offensive tackle signed with the Denver Broncos. A veteran leader and former transfer from Northern Illinois, Cox started every game at left tackle and brings experience to Denver's O-line depth chart.
C Eli Cox – Another staple of Kentucky’s offensive front, Cox signed with the Houston Texans. The Nicholasville native started at both center and guard in his time with the Wildcats and offers interior flexibility.
LB Jamon "Pop" Dumas-Johnson – The Georgia transfer and vocal leader of Kentucky’s defense signed with the Green Bay Packers. Though injuries slowed him down in 2024, his high football IQ and SEC pedigree make him an intriguing fit in Green Bay’s linebacker corps.
S Zion Childress – The hard-hitting safety signed with the Dallas Cowboys. A veteran defender who excelled in the box, Childress played multiple roles for Kentucky and brings versatility to the Cowboys’ secondary.
✍️ Mini-camp invite: Kristian Story
S Kristian Story – The Alabama transfer and rotational safety received a rookie mini-camp invite from the Atlanta Falcons. While not under contract, he’ll have a chance to earn a spot through workouts and team evaluations.
🧠 Reality check: The NFL journey is just beginning
For undrafted free agents and mini-camp invitees, the road to a 53-man roster is long and uncertain. Many will land on practice squads. Some won’t make it past camp. But each of them now has the chance to turn heads and make the most of their opportunity.
Kentucky’s track record in recent years — from Josh Allen to Wan’Dale Robinson to Mike Edwards finding his way into the league — shows that undrafted or late-round status doesn't define a career.
The Wildcats may not have flooded the draft board this year, but they’ve once again sent tough, tested, and talented players into the league.