2025 NFL draft: Advanced metric says this Bills rookie was 'favorite pick Day 1'
2025 NFL draft: Advanced metric says this Bills rookie was 'favorite pick Day 1'
When an advanced metric is used or cited in affirming a player, it can be a good indication of what that individual may contribute in and beyond the numbers.
In the case of Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston, whom the Bills selected at No. 30 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft, he has a notable creator of one of those standards of measure in his corner.
The mathematician behind the Relative Athletic Score (RAS) had an exciting assessment by way of his test results and advanced metrics upon Hairston being drafted by the Bills.
Kent Lee Platte, who created the RAS , spoke about his evaluation of Hairston, following an NFL Combine testing and the Bills' draft selection.
"My favorite pick day one in terms of the player, the team fit, and the profile is Maxwell Hairston," said Platte. "I've been higher than him than most, but that's kinda the point. He's a scrappy corner with top-tier athleticism who makes it his business to be all up in his opponents' business."
RAS suggests the Bills drafted a physically elite performer, his 9.63 RAS (out of a possible 10.00) ranks 104th-best out of 2,761 cornerback prospects from 1987 through 2025.
Though considered slightly undersized at 5-foot-11, has elite athleticism as is evident in his Combine performance. The defensive back ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.28s) among all players there this year, and his vertical and broad jumps both were Top 3 marks among players at his position.
According to RAS, Hairston's composite speed grade is "elite" as is his composite explosion grade.
Maxwell Hairston Physical Profile
Height: 5' 11"Weight: 183 lbsRAS: 9.63 (10.00)40-yard Dash: 4.2810-yard Split: 1.5Broad Jump: 10' 9"Vertical Jump: 39.5"
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