The Buffalo Bills have made a flurry of moves in the first week of the NFL offseason, and one of the under-the-radar ones was trading away the team’s 2022 1st-round pick, Kaiir Elam. Elam struggled to earn playing time with the Bills, and struggled just as much to make an impact when he did.
Elam played in 29 games for the Bills, making just 12 starts despite his high draft status.
The Bills traded Elam and a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Elam spoke to the media in a press conference upon his arrival to Dallas, and when asked about the change of scenery, he was very forthcoming.
Kaiir Elam
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“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. 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. 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.” Elam said.
“It was a blessing and a privilege to be traded to the Cowboys. The big market and the tradition here is something that I’m in love with right now. Being able to just go prove myself and help this team win, that’s all I’m committed to right now.”
Consider that a comparison. Consider that a “diss” of his Bills experience.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said that Elam not working out in Buffalo falls on him.
“I’m confident a reset for him gives him a chance. I’m rooting for him.” Beane told reporters.
When asked about Beane’s comments, Elam is looking ahead, and wants to earn a role in Dallas.
“I’m coming into a staff that truly believes in me. I feel like everything starts with an opportunity … I don’t need a red carpet or anything like that. I just want to be able to earn it.
“I’m coming in with a chip on my shoulder.”
