Josh Allen Masterclass Made Rookie Fantasize About Bills

Week 15 of 2024 featured one of the best quarterback performances in Buffalo Bills history. The Bills were on the road taking on the then-12-1 Detroit Lions. Josh Allen delivered a "masterclass," little did he know a future teammate of his was in attendance. 

Michigan-born cornerback Maxwell Hairston was in attendance for the matchup; the Kentucky cornerback received tickets from Bills rookie Ray Davis, who was Hairston's teammate at Kentucky. 

Over four months later, Hairston was drafted by the Bills, but he hasn't forgotten what he witnessed that day.

"I actually got to watch them play when they came to Detroit. Ray Davis gave me some tickets and I seen Josh Allen go out there and put on a masterclass," said Hairston.

The bills won the game 48-42, at one point holding a 45-28 lead in the fourth quarter. Allen completed 23 of his 34 pass attempts, throwing for 362 yards and finding the end zone twice. 

Allen didn't just get it done with his arms, Allen picked up 68 yards on 11 rushes, picking up another pair of touchdowns in the victory. 

"I was like, hey, I wouldn't mind that being my quarterback. And the fact that it really happened now, I'm super excited and super ready to get to work with him," said Hairston, who will soon be attempting to best Allen in practice, trying to pick him off, which the Lions' defense was unsuccessful of that fateful day. 

"I know that, hey, we're just one piece away, and I feel like I'm that missing piece. I feel like this team is a Super Bowl ready team and we're going to go out there and attack it," said Hairston, who will presumably have the opportunity to compete for the starting cornerback spot opposite of Christian Benford.

Hairston was a three-year player at Kentucky, leading the SEC with five interceptions, including two pick-sixes in 2023. In Week 4 of that year, he set the Kentucky record with two pick-sixes against Vanderbilt. Hairston only played in seven games in 2024, but still managed a pick-six, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, 19 tackles and a sack.