Kentucky football gets historic 1st round pick, Buffalo gets high character star
When the Buffalo Bills selected Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston with the 30th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Bills Mafia didn’t just cheer—they erupted. The fanbase, known for its passionate tailgates and unwavering loyalty, took to social media to celebrate the speedy defensive back who’s already stealing hearts in Orchard Park. Hairston, with his blazing 4.28-second 40-yard dash and a knack for picking off passes, feels like the perfect fit for a team hungry to bolster its secondary. Let’s dive into how Bills fans reacted and why this pick has them pumped up.
Announcing the pick was a young fan who used his Make-a-wish moment to announce the 1st round pick for Buffalo. See the full video of Tommy Parzymieso from orchard park announcing the pick.
On X, the Bills have posted the draft video and it is an absolute must watch.
What makes Hairston special isn’t just his speed—it’s his vibe. Bills Mafia loves players with personality, and Hairston’s draft-night antics won them over. He was the ultimate hype man in Green Bay, leaping up to high-five and hug every prospect who got picked before him. A popular Buffalo Bills podcast, The Wandering Buffalo, called it a “STEAL,” posting a reaction video that radiated excitement: “The Buffalo Bills Just Got a STEAL." Fans ate up Hairston’s infectious smile and team-first attitude, with many saying he’s already a cultural fit for Buffalo’s tight-knit fanbase. But it wasn't just fans taking notice, the national media did too:
Maxwell Hairston is a star.
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) April 24, 2025
🚨HEARTWARMING: MUST WATCH🚨
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) April 25, 2025
New #Bills 1st round CB Maxwell Hairston spent the entire first round hyping up every player picked and walked by him to head to the stage.
🥹🥹🥹
Hairston celebrated everyone like they were his own brother. Special person.
pic.twitter.com/Mg1R4cRImq
My favorite moment of the draft so far has been watching Maxwell Hairston beaming and hugging every guy who walks past him to go to the stage. Just a bundle of absolute joy ❤️
— Alyssa Lang (@AlyssaLang) April 25, 2025
cc @UKFootball @slax0
Not everyone was sold at first though. Some fans wondered if the Bills should’ve gone for a defensive lineman, given the team’s needs. But Hairston’s tape, which one NFL team reportedly rated higher than Colorado star Travis Hunter’s, shifted the narrative. An analytics expert Jim Cobern sealed the deal with stats: “The #Bills select Maxwell Hairston at 30! 97% in solo tackles, 98% in interceptions, and a 98% EAV score. A ball hawk with elite playmaking ability—Buffalo’s secondary just got even scarier! #NFLDraft #BillsMafia”. That post turned doubters into believers, highlighting Hairston’s ability to lock down receivers and create turnovers.
Hairston’s own words fueled the fire. When asked what he’d bring to Buffalo, he grinned and said, “ I bring being a good teammate and I’m going to get Josh Allen the ball back.” Bills Mafia lost it. That quote, shared across platforms, became a rallying cry.
From tailgate dreams to Super Bowl hopes, Bills Mafia sees Hairston as a missing piece. His speed, ball skills, and larger-than-life personality have fans ready to welcome “Mad Max” with open arms. As Alex Brasky noted, “Brandon Beane said before the draft he had 10-12 first-round grades. He said today that Maxwell Hairston was one of those first-round grades. #Bills got Hairston at pick No. 30. I’m not mathematician but seems like BUF got its guy #BillsMafia” Are there two fanbases better suited to each other than BBN and the Bills Mafia? I think not.