2025 Kentucky NFL Draft Recap

Two Wildcats Selected During NFL Draft Festivities
Heading into this year’s NFL Draft, expectations were high for the Kentucky Wildcats, with several players projected to be selected. In our draft preview, we spotlighted five Wildcats as potential picks. However, the weekend didn’t unfold quite as anticipated for head coach Mark Stoops and his staff. Ultimately, just two Kentucky players heard their names called during the draft, while several others secured opportunities as undrafted free agents. In this 2025 NFL Draft recap, we’ll break down the selections, examine where the free agents landed, and evaluate how they fit with their new teams.

Highest-Drafted Player Ever at His Position

Kentucky has steadily built a reputation as a defensive back factory, with six players at the position drafted since 2018. Still, none had ever cracked the first round—until now. That changed when Maxwell Hairston was selected 30th overall by the Buffalo Bills, making history for the program.

Hairston’s name was called by Commissioner Roger Goodell in the draft night green room, where he had already become a fan favorite. Viewers took notice of his genuine sportsmanship, as he warmly congratulated each pick before him.

Originally a three-star recruit out of West Bloomfield, Michigan, Hairston emerged as a national name during his sophomore season. He led the SEC with five interceptions, 131 return yards, and two touchdowns—both of which came in a breakout performance against Vanderbilt. Although injuries limited him to just seven games in 2024, he still managed to return an interception for a touchdown against Ohio and recorded 19 tackles.

At the NFL Combine, Hairston solidified his first-round status with a blazing 4.28-second 40-yard dash that left scouts buzzing.

Buffalo offers a promising landing spot. The Bills are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and Hairston could push for a starting role early in his career. The team struggled defensively last season, ranking near the bottom in yards allowed and surrendering third-down conversions at a troubling 45% rate—an area where Hairston’s playmaking could make an immediate impact.

Continuing a Draft-Day Trend

Although many projections had multiple Wildcats going on Days 2 and 3 of the draft, only one more was selected. Defensive lineman Deone Walker was picked in the fourth round, 109th overall—also by the Buffalo Bills. He now joins both Hairston and former Kentucky standout Ray Davis, who was selected in the fourth round of last year’s draft.

A Draft Slide—and a Chance to Prove It

Heading into the 2024 season, Deone Walker was widely projected as a potential first-round pick. However, his final year at Kentucky didn’t go as planned. It was later revealed that Walker played through a broken bone in his back—a major factor in his dip in production. Between the injury and facing frequent double-teams, he finished with just five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Now healthy, Walker enters the league with a chip on his shoulder, and the Buffalo Bills believe they may have landed one of the biggest steals of the draft.

Looking for a Shot

As we wrap up our 2025 Kentucky NFL Draft Recap, several former Wildcats will be looking to make their mark after going undrafted but quickly signing with NFL teams.

Two of the most notable names expected to go on Day 3 were offensive lineman Eli Cox and linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson. Despite the projections, both went unselected in Green Bay.

Cox quickly signed a free-agent deal with the Houston Texans, reuniting with former Kentucky offensive line coach Zach Yenser, now an assistant in Houston. A model of consistency, Cox started 38 consecutive games for the Wildcats and brings valuable versatility, having played both guard and center throughout his college career.

Dumas-Johnson landed with the Green Bay Packers. After a decorated start to his career with back-to-back national titles at Georgia, he transferred to Kentucky following an injury-shortened 2023. In his lone season in Lexington, he led the team with 67 tackles, including seven for loss, while adding 3.5 sacks, one interception, and a fumble return touchdown. Though the Packers return most of their linebackers, Dumas-Johnson is poised to compete for a spot on the practice squad.

As of now, three more Wildcats have signed undrafted free-agent contracts:

• Marques Cox (OL) – Denver Broncos

• Zion Childress (DB) – Dallas Cowboys

• Tre’Vonn Rybka (DE) – Miami Dolphins

With this year’s two draft picks, head coach Mark Stoops has now sent 31 players to the NFL, including four first-rounders—a testament to the program’s growing reputation for developing pro-ready talent.

Thanks for joining us for our 2025 Kentucky NFL Draft Recap here at Last Word on College Football.