Bills GM throws support behind accused first-round pick Maxwell Hairston

Bills general manager Billy Beane is going to bat for first-round pick Maxwell Hairston Jr.

The 30th overall pick in April, Hairston was sued by a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by Hairston at the University of Kentucky in 2021.

Beane made it a personal mission to meet Hairston's close family, including his parents, and his scouting staff thoroughly investigated the alleged incident prior to the draft, he said. Beane said the Bills knocked on a lot of doors and corroborated their belief that Hairston was an "impeccable" person during their work scouting his as a prospect.

He described the lawsuit linking Hairston -- who would've been 17 years old at the time of the alleged incident -- to the matter was frustrating.

"Frustrating because, in the legal world you can't sit there and say things back and forth. You've got to let it go," Beane said. "This happened to this young man over four years ago. He gave up his phone to prove ... he took a polygraph test. This kid didn't run from anything, he answered all of that. We have to remember in society that people can make accusations and do things. I have no idea what the agenda is there. I can tell you, every stone we turned over, every door we looked behind, this is a very good young man. A young man you would let in your house, watch your kids, hang out with whoever.

"He is genuinely a good person. ... I think we need to remember in the world, I'm not going to get into it, but we see these accusations, sometimes these guys can be victims, too. They make a lot of money. Rarely do people defend them. That's hard for me in this seat sometimes. Because I've seen it. We've had it here with a player here a few years ago that's no longer here that's wrongly accused.

"Anyone who has met Maxwell Hairston genuinely knows what a great young man he is."

The fastest player clocked in the 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Hairston touched speeds approaching 25 mph and was officially timed at 4.28 in the 40.

Hairston is expected to play a significant role in Buffalo's defense as the Bills seek dramatic improvement from an inconsistent season stopping opponents from moving the ball through the air. He received some reps with the first-team defense and was on the field in the goal line stops package on Wednesday.

He came close to picking off a pass thrown by Josh Allen, which would've tested his willingness to keep his word on draft night.

Hairston said when Allen FaceTimed him on draft night, he told him, "If I ever pick you off in practice I'm keeping that ball. It's not personal but you're kinda just that guy."

--Field Level Media