In desperate need of a cornerback, the Jets acquired Nate Hairston from the Colts on Wednesday in exchange for a 2020 sixth-round pick.
The two teams were an easy match thanks to the front office shakeup in New York. Rex Hogan was hired as Joe Douglas’ assistant general manager after serving in Chris Ballard’s front office in Indianapolis.
Hairston was on the outskirts of the Colts cornerback room due to the glut of talent that Ballard has established since coming over from Kansas City. New York found a cornerback for good value with two years left of team control, while Indianapolis got a draft pick for a player that likely would have been cut.
With that said, here are four things to know about the Jets’ latest addition to their secondary.
Master of Transition
Nate Hairston came to Temple University in 2012 as a wide receiver. Due to the surplus of talent at the position, including Robby Anderson, the team decided to move Hairston to cornerback.
Temple has had at least one defensive back drafted in the past four years. The 2015 receiver room on North Broad produced 11 players who signed NFL contracts. Hairston is the only one to land on both of those lists.
East-West Shrine Participant
Nate Hairston accepted an invitation and participated in the 2017 East-West Shrine Game.
Hairston impressed scouts and NFL draft analysts alike there. He recorded three combined tackles in the game, which helped earn him an invite to the 2017 NFL scouting combine. From there, he was projected to be drafted anywhere from the fifth to the seventh round.
Fell out of Favor
Nate Hairston jumped on the NFL scene with an impressive rookie campaign in 2017.
He finished that season with 31 total tackles, five pass deflections, two sacks and one interception in 14 games and four starts. Following the season, however, the Colts fired both Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano.
Still, Hairston was named a starter by Frank Reich going into the 2018 season. He started seven of 13 games in his second year, but quietly fell down the depth chart. When the Colts released their first official team depth chart of 2019, Hairston was listed as the team’s No. 6 cornerback.
Ultimately, he found himself in a tough spot with a regime that did not draft him.
What He Brings to the Table
On the surface, Nate Hairston appears to be a band-aid on the Jets’ depleted cornerback depth chart. However, Hairston can be used multiple ways in the Jets secondary, as well as on special teams.
Hairston can play inside and outside, but he is best suited to help man the slot with Brian Poole. He’s a determined player who makes up for his lack of speed with his physicality.
Hairston is also a useful piece for Brant Boyer. He’s a great open-field tackler, which he proved at Temple and in Indianapolis. If need be, Hairston can also return punts, but that position appears to be locked down by Greg Dortch.
