Bills' Maxwell Hairston on first year, rookie Davison Igbinosun add
· Yahoo Sports
During the 2026 NFL Draft the Bills targeted a position that may have some as a surprise to many.
While much of the focus amongst media and the fans had been on the receiver position in recent seasons, Buffalo had already made a move to add pass-catcher D.J. Moore to the corps.
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This left the team more free to add the best players available on their draft board at other positions. One of those positions was cornerback, where the team traded up in the second round to add Ohio State's Davison Igbinosun.
The Bills had already taken CB Maxwell Hairston with their 2025 first-round pick and signed Christian Benford a sizable extension last year as well. Hairston missed significant time to injury during his rookie campaign, and is setting his sights on goals for season two.
"I got a lot to prove to myself," Hairston said per The Buffalo News. "My goal is to be a full-season starter. Honestly, my goal is to do whatever I can to help us win a Super Bowl. Day in, day out, come in and take care of my body and just keep going."
New cornerbacks coach Jay Valai also spoke on Hairston's status and the addition of IGB.
"Max, you see great upside and great ability," Valai said. "Obviously, he got hurt to start the year, so he's understanding. … I can't wait to see him on the field when the fall hits and camp hits and getting into the season. You talk about somebody with tremendous upside and a high level of want-to. He's very intentional with everything he does. A lot of people have intent, but he's intentional at the doing aspect of it. You see a guy who's really, really focused in proving the Bills right in picking him."
Hairston missed six games early last season with a knee injury coming out of training camp. He would return for 11 regular-season games playing in rotation with veteran Tre'Davious White and log two interceptions and 18 tackles with five passes defended. In Week 18 against the Jets he injured an ankle and missed both of the Bills' playoff games.
"Especially in the playoffs, it was tough," he shared during offseason practices. "Just got to keep that flame inside of me, take that into next season, and when we make that run, I'm available."
Opponents attacked spots in Buffalo's secondary in his absence. And with a new defensive coordinator and scheme by way of Jim Leonhard and his approach, the Bills are building a cornerbacks room just like they are at other positions. Hairston persevered and is ready to get back to the field to be a part of it and to make a difference.
"Honestly, just praying on it, always having faith, and always believing that everything happens for a reason," the corner added. "Just controlling what I can control, physically and mentally. Not letting an injury slow me down from being a good teammate. Always still encourage the guys. It's hard regardless, but it's not impossible to get through. You've just got to put your head down and work."
For his part, Buffalo's new coordinator is blending the scheme he brings with him from Denver with the one Buffalo employed under former head coach Sean McDermott. And he values Hairston's place in the rotation and the depth that Igbinosun offers to the corner room as well.
"We love Max. I was a huge fan of Max coming out of college as well," Leonhard said. "We're not down on any of the corners that we had. We needed depth. I firmly believe you have to be able to rush the passer, you have to be able to cover, and we needed more depth in the room in order to do that. Now, we've got to go make it right, but that was the biggest thing, [drafting Igbinosun] had nothing to do with Max or 'CB' or bringing Dee in. We needed more depth. You need more starters in a secondary; you can never have enough guys who can cover."
Igbinosun acts as a press-man corner with length and speed to give head coach Joe Brady and Leonhard a backup and rotation player with and behind Hairston on the depth chart. He also joins Benford and nickel Dee Alford to fill out the room.
"Let's come in, let's work. We're getting young in the secondary," Hairston said about the addition of IGB. "He's came in here and made plays. He's fitting in well. We draft who we draft. I love all the rookies we bring in, but for me, I'm worried about what I've got to do this year to be out there. If it is competition, I love it. I'm somebody, I like to work. Him coming in kind of just let us know that we're going young."
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills' Maxwell Hairston on first year, rookie Davison Igbinosun add