With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching in just a few days, the Lions have a huge decision to make in regards to what they do with the 28th overall pick.
We are in the thick of mock draft season, where most experts are giving their opinions on who each team should draft in the first round, but Bleacher Report's Brent Sobieski recently wrote an article naming one player each team should avoid in the first round.
Whether it's a player with a nagging injury, a player with character concerns, or just simply a bad fit, there are a ton of great players on this list, but the Lions pick may surprise you.
Experts think Maxwell Hairston is a bad fit for Dan Campbell's Lions
Hairston may be one of the most talented cornerbacks in this year's NFL Draft, but even at a thin position for Detroit, Sobieski thinks the Lions should avoid him.
"Hairston has some Deion Sanders in him, in that playing physical and tackling are optional for him at times," said Sobieski regarding the lack of fit with Detroit and the Kentucky cornerback. "Brad Holmes is going to find which prospect best fits who the Lions are."
The "lack of toughness" seems to be the biggest reason that Sobieski believes the Lions should stay away from Hairston. While I agree with his point entirely, Hairston does have all of the tools to be a great NFL cornerback.
Hairston is a tall and slender cornerback with lightning speed, as we saw in the combine a month ago. The cornerback prospect ran a 4.28 40-yard dash, which ties him for 10th place all time in the most prestigious event at the combine.
With the speed in the NFL today, especially among wide receivers, Hairston's speed can be a very sought-after asset in the draft. With that being said, regardless of his lightning-quick speed, experts are very concerned about multiple aspects of his game.
"Needs to do a better job of locating the ball downfield. He will struggle to contest big wideouts, and his run support will turn off some teams," said NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein when discussing Hairston's weaknesses. "He needs to prove he can hold up to the rigors and physicality of an NFL game."
I completely understand why Sobieski listed Hairston as the Lions player to avoid in this year's draft. Holmes and Campbell love a prospect that isn't fully developed and ready to go yet, but has the tools to be a dominant player in this league. Hairston is exactly that, so I could see why the Lions would be tempted to take him.
Unfortunately, the physicality is something that I don't think can be overlooked here. Under Aaron Glenn, he wanted his defensive backs to be physical, great tacklers, and great run stoppers, and I expect the new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard to want the same. While I think Hairston can be great elsewhere, I agree with Sobieski, he isn't the best fit in Detroit.