Last week, Daniel Jeremiah released his third mock draft of the offseason, and for the first time, he had the Green Bay Packers selecting a defensive back with their first-round pick.
With the 23rd pick, Jeremiah had the Packers selecting Maxwell Hairston, a cornerback from Kentucky.
“It’s not clear if Jaire Alexander has a future in Green Bay,” Jeremiah wrote, “so the Packers turn to the highly dynamic Hairston at cornerback.”
Hairston redshirted in 2021 before playing 12 games as a reserve in 2022. In 2023, he earned second-team All-SEC honors after leading the SEC and tying for sixth in the FBS with five interceptions. He also tied for second in the FBS with two interceptions returned for touchdowns, led his team with six pass breakups, and started all 13 games, recording 68 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
In 2024, Hairston started seven games, registering 19 tackles, a sack, an interception returned for a touchdown, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles, though he missed five games due to a shoulder injury.
Hairston recorded the fastest 40-yard dash at the 2025 combine and posted a 9.68 relative athletic score. However, the Packers may shy away from him because of his weight.
Hairston tested at 183 lbs. at the combine, and ESPN lists him as 186. The Packers typically prefer cornerbacks who weigh at least 190 lbs. The last two cornerbacks they selected in the first round, Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, weighed in at 194 lbs. While Hairston’s athleticism is undeniable, his weight could still be a concern for Green Bay when considering him at pick 23.
Jeff Hafley prioritizes the ability to play press coverage and physicality at the line of scrimmage from his secondary. Achieving this is much easier when your cornerbacks have enough muscle to battle with receivers immediately after the snap. A cornerback’s physicality at the line can be crucial in disrupting the offense’s timing, and it’s a trait the Packers typically prioritize when evaluating players for this role.
Alexander’s time with the Packers is likely over, and I’d guess that Brian Gutekunst will hold on to him until days before the draft. He’ll probably wait to see if any team desperate for cornerback help makes a move, potentially offering a pick for Alexander.
The Packers also lack depth, having lost Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, and Robert Rochell in free agency. While they signed Nate Hobbs to bolster the position, Green Bay must target corner in the draft.
Hairston’s athleticism alone should make him a target for the Packers. He posted a story on Instagram showing he has bulked up to 193 lbs. after the combine. However, I believe there are better fits for what the Packers would like to do in the back end, including Jahdae Barron. Still, if you’re a cornerback with a strong relative athletic score, chances are you’ll be on Green Bay’s radar. Hairston fits that criteria.
If Hairston can maintain his current weight until late April, he will be a name to watch for the Packers on Day 1 and potentially early on Day 2. It feels like they are focusing on bigger bodies this year, and the ideal scenario for the team would likely be to come out of the draft with at least one cornerback weighing close to 200 lbs. Still, Hairston’s athleticism would be hard to pass up.
Hairston would likely compete for immediate playing time, probably starting alongside Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs in nickel packages. In base defense, I’d expect both Hobbs and Nixon to open as starters, but Hairston has the potential to push for a bigger role. If he develops quickly, he could challenge Nixon for the CB2 job as the season progresses.
