The Jacksonville Jaguars added Jourdan Lewis to their cornerback room in free agency, but that shouldn't deter them from investing an early-round pick at the position in this year's draft. After all, the Jags struggled to stop opposing teams from throwing the football last season, so they can use as much help as possible. Fortunately, they'll have plenty of options, and Chad Reuter of NFL Media came up with an intriguing suggestion in Round 2.
Reuter put together a fifth-round mock draft and had Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston going to Jacksonville in Round 2. He doesn't give any reasons, but the pick would most definitely make sense from a value standpoint.
A three-star recruit out of high school, Hairston is an opportunistic cornerback with great awareness who's always looking to make plays. At 5'11" and 183 pounds, he isn't particularly imposing but got the job done more often than not. On the other hand, his 40-speed doesn't always show up on the football field, and he frequently finds himself trailing behind receivers. On top of that, his footwork needs plenty of work.
Having said that, Maxwell excels at press coverage and thrives in zone coverage due to his superb vision. Cory Giddins of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department projects him to go into Round 2, pointing out that the 2024 Second-Team All-SEC has the tools to develop into an impact contributor but will need to refine some areas of his game.
"Maxwell Hairston projects as a day two pick with the potential to develop into a high-level contributor in the NFL. His combination of length, press coverage skills, and zone awareness makes him an intriguing option for teams that play a lot of zone or press-man coverage. However, his inconsistent footwork and tackling ability will need refinement at the next level. With proper development, Hairston could become a solid starting cornerback in the NFL."
And in case you were wondering, Reuter had defensive tackle Mason Graham landing with the Jaguars in the first round. This isn't particularly groundbreaking when you take into account that the consensus believes that the former Michigan Wolverine will be the pick at No. 5.
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Why Maxwell Hairston make sense for the Jaguars in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft
If the Jacksonville Jaguars are want to add depth at cornerback, they could easiliy sign Jack Jones, who's available after getting released by the Las Vegas Raiders. Then again, general manager James Gladstone indicated after free agency that the team may not bring in veterans because they could stand in the way of the incoming rookie class.
If the Jags do wait until the draft, they'll have ample options. Given that they have no glaring needs, they could address different positions on Days 1 and 2. At No. 5, they could target Travis Hunter and Willl Johnson. But if they want to bolster another position in the first round, Maxwell Hairston would most definitely be an appealing choice.
Fellow cornerback Shavon Revel is meeting with several teams ahead of the draft, and there's a strong chance he may not make it to Round 2. If that's the case, Hairston would be one of Jacksonville's best alternatives. Another option would be Trey Amos, another prospect with the tools to become a high-level contributor.
Of course, the Jags could also wait until Round 3 to add reinforcements to the cornerback room. After all, they have Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, and Jourdan Lewis in the fold. All three are expected to take on significant roles next season.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars need to make upgrades at cornerback, but have the flexibility to wait until the later rounds. If they decide to do it in Round 2, though, Maxwell Hairston will be a solid choice.