The Bills added more youth to their secondary, but Maxwell Hairston isn’t spending much time worrying about the roster math. His focus is simpler: stay on the field, keep improving, and help Buffalo chase a championship.
Hairston, a first-round pick the year before, said he has plenty driving him heading into the season.
“I got a lot to prove to myself,” Hairston said, via Jay Skurski of 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.”
Buffalo used two draft picks on corners in the 2026 draft, including second-rounder Davison Igbinosun. Hairston said he welcomes the competition and is more interested in what he needs to do than in parsing the front office’s decisions.
“Let’s come in, let’s work. We’re getting young in the secondary.
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.”
New Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard also made clear he still believes in Hairston and the rest of the corners already on the roster. He said he was a fan of Hairston before taking the job and stressed that the draft move was about adding depth, not replacing anyone.
“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.”
Around the AFC East, a few other names got notable praise in Jeremy Fowler’s league-wide rankings.
In the Dolphins’ backfield, De’Von Achane drew a strong endorsement from a veteran NFL defensive coach, who called him: “An explosive play waiting to happen. Elite receiver out of the backfield,”
Miami center Aaron Brewer also got a major nod from one NFC executive, who labeled him the most underrated player in the league in Fowler’s ranking of interior linemen: “Most underrated player in the league. He’s very scheme-specific-but his twitchiness and explosiveness are off the charts.
He’s good but accentuated by the scheme, in my opinion. Athletic but not powerful.”
On the Patriots side, Drake Maye landed at No. 8 on Fowler’s list of the league’s best quarterbacks heading into 2026, with the rankings based on votes from coaches and executives around the NFL. One NFL coordinator praised his tools and what he did despite the situation around him: “Size, athleticism, accuracy, playmaking upside through the roof, poise and toughness,” an NFL coordinator said. “He had zero weapons and a shaky OL, and made it all work.”
A veteran NFC defensive coach offered a more cautious view of the young quarterback: “He’s really talented, but I need to see more,” a veteran NFC defensive coach added on Maye. “Other quarterbacks on this list have proven it over time, and he’s got to keep doing it.”
In Other News...
The Dolphins Are Chasing An Identity Fans Have Wanted For Years
The Dolphins have spent the offseason trying to reset the tone around the franchise, and the changes have been sweeping from the top down. After moving on from Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel, Miami turned to Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley, both coming over from Green Bay, as the organization looks for a different kind of authority and a different kind of weekly standard.
What makes the shift feel bigger is the direction it points on the field. Miami wants to shed the old image of being too soft and become a tougher, more physical team, a goal that will be tested every week in the AFC East. There are still pieces in place who can define that identity, including Jordyn Brooks, who was ranked seventh among NFL linebackers by ESPN, but the real question is how quickly the rest of the roster can match the new tone. [Read more 🡒]
Former Dolphins Teammate Thinks Tua Is Built For A Comeback
Tua Tagovailoas next chapter has already drawn plenty of attention around South Florida, where his time with the Dolphins ended after a turbulent 2025 season that saw him fall all the way to third-string. Even so, there are still people in the building who believe the quarterbacks best football is ahead of him, and left tackle Patrick Paul was among the former teammates offering support as Tagovailoa looks to reset his career.
The appeal of the landing spot is obvious from a Dolphins perspective, too, because the offense he is stepping into has real pass-catching talent around it. Training camp begins July 29, and with a starting job there for the taking, Tagovailoa now has a chance to show he can turn a difficult year into a comeback story rather than a cautionary one. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Have One Massive WR Question They Cant Ignore
Miamis wide receiver room looks very different entering the 2026 offseason, and that alone makes the position one of the most interesting on the roster. With Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle no longer in the picture, the Dolphins have leaned into a reset that puts added pressure on the players now expected to carry the passing game, including third-round pick Caleb Douglas.
Douglas arrives with real momentum after a strong 2025 season at Texas Tech, one that earned him Second-Team All-Big 12 honors and a Senior Bowl invite. Miami clearly sees enough upside to give him a chance at a meaningful role, but the next step is less about rsum and more about refinement, because the Dolphins need to know whether he can handle the details that decide playing time in a crowded NFL receiver room. [Read more 🡒]