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The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers like their cornerbacks to weigh 190 pounds or more. Since taking over as general manager in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has drafted seven cornerbacks. Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson and Kad'Dar Hollman all weighed 196 pounds. Eric Stokes weighed 194, Carrington Valentine was 193 and Kalen King was 190. The only cornerback he drafted that fell below the 190-pound threshold is Shemar Jean-Charles, who weighed 184.
As the Packers look for help at the cornerback position this off-season, Gutekunst may be willing to bend the weight threshold for Maxwell Hairston. The Kentucky cornerback checks in at No. 28 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A three-star recruit out of Michigan, Hairston enjoyed a breakout season as a redshirt sophomore in 2023. He led the SEC in interceptions (five) and recorded 68 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and broke up six passes.
This past season, Hairston missed five games due to a shoulder injury and recorded one sack, one interception and broke up four passes.
"Hairston’s greatest strength is his twitchiness, which allows him to quickly change directions and drive on the football," Devin Jackson, an NFL Draft writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, said. "He especially excels in off-man coverage and zone coverage situations where he can read and react to get a bead on the football quickly."
A former track athlete, Hairston easily carries speed downfield. He showcased that track speed at the NFL Scouting Combine when he clocked a 4.28 40-yard dash, which was the fastest mark by any player in Indianapolis this year.
To go along with his speed, Hairston has fluid hips and good change-of-direction skills. He easily mirrors receivers' movements and stays attached. With his frame (5-11, 31-inch arms) he has the length to disrupt the catch point. He showcased good field awareness and route recognition. He uses his lower-body explosiveness to quickly drive on throws. He has outstanding closing and recovery speed.
The Kentucky cornerback has natural ball skills and does not panic when the ball is in the air. He has a knack for making splash plays and can make quarterbacks pay for throwing into his area code.
"Hairston’s coverage effectiveness is set up by his oily hips," Jackson said. "He’s got nice instincts and because of that, he can pattern match and get into the hip pocket of opposing wide receivers."
At 183 pounds, Hairston is a "light weight", but he's a feisty run defender. He's scrappy and isn't going to back down. He's a strong one-on-one tackler and had six missed tackles during the 2023 campaign.
"Hairston embraces contact and can hold his own making tackles on the perimeter," Jackson said. "I wouldn’t ask him to be an apex defender or nickel because he’s not the strongest or most physically imposing, but he’s no slouch as a tackler either."
The Packers have lost Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell in free agency and Alexander's days in Green Bay could be numbered.
That leaves the Packers with newly acquired Nate Hobbs to team with Keisean Nixon and Valentine. It would be shocking if Gutekunst didn't add at least two cornerbacks to that room via the NFL Draft.
With his athleticism, ball skills and feisty mentality, Hairston could be a target for the Packers in the second round. ESPN's Matt Bowen recently linked Hairston to the Packers as one of his favorite team fits for the upcoming draft.
From Bowen:
Hairston has the goods to develop into a playmaking cornerback. If the Packers feel comfortable with his shoulder injury and are willing to bend the weight threshold slightly, they could be adding a cornerback who could challenge for starting reps as a rookie and potentially lead the team in interceptions. He's that good.
"He’s got good timing and feel when to look back for the ball in trail technique and his recovery speed is unmatched," Jackson said. "Hairston at the very least projects as a high upside No. 2 cornerback with good ball skills and zone coverage skills to fit into multiple schemes."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 28, Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston
Continue reading...
The Green Bay Packers like their cornerbacks to weigh 190 pounds or more. Since taking over as general manager in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has drafted seven cornerbacks. Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson and Kad'Dar Hollman all weighed 196 pounds. Eric Stokes weighed 194, Carrington Valentine was 193 and Kalen King was 190. The only cornerback he drafted that fell below the 190-pound threshold is Shemar Jean-Charles, who weighed 184.
As the Packers look for help at the cornerback position this off-season, Gutekunst may be willing to bend the weight threshold for Maxwell Hairston. The Kentucky cornerback checks in at No. 28 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A three-star recruit out of Michigan, Hairston enjoyed a breakout season as a redshirt sophomore in 2023. He led the SEC in interceptions (five) and recorded 68 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and broke up six passes.
This past season, Hairston missed five games due to a shoulder injury and recorded one sack, one interception and broke up four passes.
"Hairston’s greatest strength is his twitchiness, which allows him to quickly change directions and drive on the football," Devin Jackson, an NFL Draft writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, said. "He especially excels in off-man coverage and zone coverage situations where he can read and react to get a bead on the football quickly."
A former track athlete, Hairston easily carries speed downfield. He showcased that track speed at the NFL Scouting Combine when he clocked a 4.28 40-yard dash, which was the fastest mark by any player in Indianapolis this year.
To go along with his speed, Hairston has fluid hips and good change-of-direction skills. He easily mirrors receivers' movements and stays attached. With his frame (5-11, 31-inch arms) he has the length to disrupt the catch point. He showcased good field awareness and route recognition. He uses his lower-body explosiveness to quickly drive on throws. He has outstanding closing and recovery speed.
The Kentucky cornerback has natural ball skills and does not panic when the ball is in the air. He has a knack for making splash plays and can make quarterbacks pay for throwing into his area code.
"Hairston’s coverage effectiveness is set up by his oily hips," Jackson said. "He’s got nice instincts and because of that, he can pattern match and get into the hip pocket of opposing wide receivers."
At 183 pounds, Hairston is a "light weight", but he's a feisty run defender. He's scrappy and isn't going to back down. He's a strong one-on-one tackler and had six missed tackles during the 2023 campaign.
"Hairston embraces contact and can hold his own making tackles on the perimeter," Jackson said. "I wouldn’t ask him to be an apex defender or nickel because he’s not the strongest or most physically imposing, but he’s no slouch as a tackler either."
Fit with the Packers
The Packers have lost Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell in free agency and Alexander's days in Green Bay could be numbered.
That leaves the Packers with newly acquired Nate Hobbs to team with Keisean Nixon and Valentine. It would be shocking if Gutekunst didn't add at least two cornerbacks to that room via the NFL Draft.
With his athleticism, ball skills and feisty mentality, Hairston could be a target for the Packers in the second round. ESPN's Matt Bowen recently linked Hairston to the Packers as one of his favorite team fits for the upcoming draft.
From Bowen:
Hairston has the goods to develop into a playmaking cornerback. If the Packers feel comfortable with his shoulder injury and are willing to bend the weight threshold slightly, they could be adding a cornerback who could challenge for starting reps as a rookie and potentially lead the team in interceptions. He's that good.
"He’s got good timing and feel when to look back for the ball in trail technique and his recovery speed is unmatched," Jackson said. "Hairston at the very least projects as a high upside No. 2 cornerback with good ball skills and zone coverage skills to fit into multiple schemes."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 28, Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston
Continue reading...
