Bills Back Maxwell Hairston as Second‑Round Pick Opens Boundary Competition

Hairston’s offseason push to add muscle and restore availability is the decisive test for who starts on the boundary under Jim Leonhard’s new scheme.

Overview

Hairston said restoring his body was his top offseason priority and that he has been focused on weight training and conditioning to avoid the recurring knocks that shortened his rookie year.
His 2025 rookie season was limited by three separate injuries, including an LCL sprain and a late‑season ankle problem, that cost him time and left him out of the postseason.
Buffalo traded up in the 2026 draft to select Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun at No. 62, adding a high‑pick competitor for boundary snaps opposite Christian Benford.
Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard publicly endorsed Hairston this week, calling him a player the staff values while stressing that staying healthy and available is essential.
The immediate storyline is the spring and training‑camp competition between Hairston and Igbinosun to win a starting role, a battle that also addresses depth lost after Tre’Davious White’s departure and Dorian Strong’s surgery recovery.