The Buffalo Bills got rid of some dead wood on Wednesday afternoon when they traded cornerback Kaiir Elam to the Dallas Cowboys for a pick swap. The former first-round pick from 2022 never caught on in Buffalo and could not crack the permanent starting lineup.

Elam was a strong player at the University of Florida, but his greatness never translated to the professional game. He was expected to inherit one of the cornerback positions his rookie year and made six starts and gathered two interceptions. Things only went downhill from there.

Elam tore a ligament in this ankle prior to start of his second season in Buffalo. He tried to play through the injury, but seemed to hurt the ankle worse by running on it and ended up on injured reserve. He only played in three games that season.

Unfortunately for Elam, he was replaced by Christian Benford, who went on to play well and earn a lucrative extension.

In 2024 the Bills suffered an injury in the secondary when Tre’Davious White went down with an injury. Sean McDermott tried to use Elam in his stead and things just did not work out. Elam was on the field for only 35 percent of the snaps. That is when his future in Buffalo was soured.

Elam had a $2.57 million cap value according to spotrac.com. That includes base salary and a proration of his rookie signing bonus.

Look for Dallas needy Dallas to possibly give him a chance to start. … and while Elam, still just 23, has a team option in 2026, he will likely be a one-year rental there.

The fan reaction for Bills Mafia? A typical take: “(Bills GM Brandon) Beane fleecing old man Jerry in an absolute masterclass. Anyone who’s watched Elam play knows he should have had zero trade value whatsoever.”

But the fact is, this is Buffalo sending a 2025 sixth-round draft pick to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2025 fifth-rounder and a 2026 seventh-rounder. So nobody is “fleecing” anybody; these are pennies being exchanged.

But the Bills are giving up on somebody, no doubt.