As reported by Mike Klis of 9NEWS Denver, the Denver Broncos recently welcomed Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston for a top-30 pre-draft visit. Hairston is considered one of the premier cornerbacks available in this year’s draft and could be a sleeper candidate for the Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

To clarify, a top-30 visit allows each NFL team to host up to 30 draft prospects before the NFL Draft begins. These visits function as detailed job interviews, where prospects tour team facilities, meet with coaches, and participate in workouts. It’s an essential step in each franchise’s pre-draft evaluation process.

Standing 6’0″ and weighing 183 pounds, Hairston has built a strong draft profile. He ran a blazing 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, posted a 39 1⁄2-inch vertical, and recorded a 10’9” broad jump. Across three seasons at Kentucky, he emerged as a top shutdown corner, collecting 89 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 6 interceptions, and 16 pass breakups.

Dane Brugler, lead draft analyst at The Athletic, ranks Hairston as the 35th-best overall player in the 2025 NFL Draft and considers him the fourth-best cornerback available.

A two-year starter for Kentucky, Hairston served as the field corner in Brad White’s defense, which employed both man and zone schemes. He became a draft standout with a conference-leading five interceptions in 2023 and tied a school record with three career pick-sixes. A smooth athlete with elite speed, Hairston plays tight coverage in man and shows excellent field awareness in zone. He excels at attacking the ball but may struggle with physical receivers and run defense due to his lean frame.

In general, Hairston is a rangy and instinctive competitor who anticipates route combinations well and reacts fluidly. He has the hands and footwork to succeed in various coverages. With better tackling, he has the upside to develop into a reliable NFL starter early in his professional career.

This move is notable because cornerback hasn’t been seen as a pressing need for Denver. With Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II, plus Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian contributing solid performances, investing a high pick in a corner seems unexpected. A top-30 visit doesn’t guarantee strong interest, but it certainly raises eyebrows.

Moss, however, had some difficulties late in the season, notably in the matchup against the Bengals, where Joe Burrow and his receivers exploited him heavily. Though Moss had generally played well, that game may have signaled to Denver’s front office that depth is necessary. Given how stacked the AFC is with elite QBs and explosive offenses, depth at cornerback is critical for keeping pace.

A prospect like Hairston could easily go in the first round or early on day two, making him a real possibility at Denver’s 20th overall pick. Personally, I’d be surprised if the Broncos used their first pick on a corner, but this visit could hint at unexpected plans.