Maxwell Hairston checks almost every box for the Green Bay Packers. He may have now cleared the final hurdle to becoming one of Brian Gutekunst's top targets.
There's a reason why many of the top draft insiders, including NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN's Mel Kiper, have repeatedly connected Hairston to Green Bay.
The Packers will love Hairston's athleticism. He stole the show at the NFL Combine with a pace-setting 4.28-second 40-yard dash.
Hairston also provides the production that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley craves. Hafley's defense prioritizes the ball, and the Kentucky cornerback would give them another ball-hawk in the secondary, having picked off six passes in his final two seasons in college, returning three for touchdowns.
The buzz hasn't gone away, either, with the two-time second-team All-SEC going at No. 23 in a recent Todd McShay mock draft.
The Packers also have strict size thresholds at each position, which is where significant doubt arose about the likelihood of Hairston landing in Green Bay.
However, he may have put those concerns to bed.
Maxwell Hairston's social media post may catch Packers' attention
The Packers rarely draft cornerbacks or receivers below 190 pounds. It's a strict guideline, and not everyone agrees, but it's just the way they've done business dating back to the Ron Wolf era.
Hairston weighed 183 pounds at the NFL Combine, which was up from 179 pounds at the Senior Bowl. That's what made the strong rumors connecting him to the Packers so surprising.
However, Hairston posted on his Instagram account that he is now up to 194 pounds. That would, in theory, check the final box for the Packers.
Of course, it's unofficial but still notable. And the Packers have made exceptions before, including when they drafted Jayden Reed, who was 187 pounds at the NFL Combine.
It's unclear how interested the Packers are in Hairston. Despite the rumors, it's important to remember we are in lying season. Teams leak information they want to get out there to avoid revealing their secrets.
But Hairston should have their interest, especially if he is over 190 pounds. He is a phenomenal athlete who made a habit of turning the ball over in college. There's no denying his talent.
Hairston may have taken the final step to pushing himself near the top of the Packers' board.