Former Buffalo Bills first-round pick and current Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kaiir Elam looks to make the most of his new opportunity in Texas.
At his introductory press conference for the Cowboys, Elam reflected upon his time in Buffalo, as he was traded to Dallas. Interestingly, it seems like Elam felt like he was an afterthought, even as a highly-touted draft pick.
“Coming to Buffalo, I was a kid that just wanted to improve and learn and really show off my talents. But I was always put in the back seat,” Elam reflected.
Over the course of his three seasons in Buffalo, Elam gradually shifted from spot starter to game-day inactive for the Bills. Elam highlights he was not necessarily a priority, being placed in “the back seat.” However, the combination of his struggles on the field in addition to Christian Benford’s ascension contributed to Elam’s backslide down the depth chart.
Benford was part of the same draft class as Elam. However, as a sixth-round pick, Benford clearly understood the defensive scheme much better than Elam. Benford is now on the cusp of a major payday, and Elam is off to his second team, failing to complete his initial contract for Buffalo.
To his credit, Elam kept working diligently with the Bills staff in an attempt to see more time on the field.
Elam added, “I continued to put my head down and work, continued to make plays throughout the season and in the playoffs and stuff like that. I just took everything I learned from there and all the baggage and improvements I felt like I needed to make and just packaged it up and worked on it every day.” The Florida product sees a glimmer of good from his time in Buffalo. “I don’t really see it as a negative. I really just see it as a growing opportunity for me to go shine somewhere else.”
Nevertheless, Elam fell out of favor with the Bills coaching staff. He sees the move will give him a better opportunity to succeed.
“I’m confident because I’m coming into a staff that truly believes in me. I don’t think they would’ve made the move if they didn’t. I feel like everything starts with an opportunity, so if I’m able to come in here and compete and show what I can do, that’s all I really would want.” Elam added, “I don’t need a red carpet or anything like that. I just want to be able to earn it with a fair opportunity.”
Elam arrived with a great deal of promise. He was a standout for the Florida Gators, excelling at man coverage with his athleticism and speed. Elam was the fourth cornerback taken in the first round of the 2022 draft. Derek Stingly, Ahmad Gardner, and Trent McDuffie were selected ahead of Elam; McDuffie was picked two spots ahead of Elam. Buffalo traded up to the 23rd overall spot to select Elam.
However, Elam’s skills did not consistently materialize for Buffalo. Benford jumped him on the depth chart. The Bills traded for Rasul Douglas.
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane conceded that the pick didn’t work out. “Ultimately it’s on me. I made the selection that didn’t work out and I own that.” Beane added that he’s “rooting for Kaiir” in Dallas.
For Bills fans, the unfortunate lasting impression of Elam was the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Elam stepped up in for an injured Benford. However, Elam struggled in coverage and never looked comfortable on the field. On several occasions, Elam played far-off receivers, giving up a great deal of space. The lack of confidence from the Buffalo brass was apparent.
Ultimately, the trade is a best-case scenario for both Elam and the Bills.
