RD 1, Pick 23: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida

[NewEra]

The big plus for me with this pick is know we have more versatility with our play calling.  We can play more man with him and Tre.  With our improved pass rush, mixing in more press man could be killer. Looking forward to watching him matchup and get his hands on in the first 5 yards.  

[Rochesterfan]

27 minutes ago, CorkScrewHill said:

I am thinking this is unlikely to be true as the Bills have tried to bring in for Top 30 visits the people they are actually considering. Sauce and Stingley may have been higher on their board but since they were unlikely to get them it might not have made sense to bring them in. However, McDuffie was in the range and yet they elected to not bring him in. I suspect he was not a candidate for their first round pick. Similarity if Booth was removed from their list .. why did they bring him in for a top 30 visit if he was already blacklisted due to health issues

 

I believe they brought him in to confirm health issues or clear him.

 

The rumor is the Hernia was fine, but there were knee issues that got red flagged by several teams.

 

I suspect you are absolutely correct on McDuffie if he was not a visit.  
 

Elam was one of the last visits - I think that was on purpose as he was their target.

 

 

[Magox]

3 hours ago, Bruffalo said:

Did you not see the run on WR? Any WR left would be a much bigger reach than Elam.  You could easily trade up and get somebody in 2nd-3rd if you're that worried about it.

You don’t understand.  Scotty wanted a WR with the first pick, no matter what. NO Matter What! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!  
 

Doesn’t matter how many WR’s were picked up to this point, even if they didn’t have a first round grade or were not near the BPA on the Bills chart because Scotty wanted a WR!

 

HARUMPHH!!!

[sirebors]

3 hours ago, Kingston Bills Fan said:

For people saying they don’t mind trading a 4th…..what? Why just give away any pick? You could have used that 4th to move up in the second round, there was no way that Dallas was going corner. Bean just got nervous and ***** up. I like Elam but that just made zero sense

 

How do you figure it was only Dallas Beane had to worry about? Dallas could have wanted Elam themselves. Or Dallas could have traded their pick to someone else who wanted Elam. But more than that Beane also had to worry about the pick before Dallas. Baltimore was more willing to deal the 23rd pick and could have been fielding offers from multiple teams all looking to draft Elam. Saying the Bills only had to worry about who Dallas might pick is beyond ludicrous and makes zero sense. 

[Magox]

3 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

I’ll take my chances with that and a fully healthy Josh Allen and playmakers…. Did you watch the Bills in the playoffs? White was out. 😂 

You’re not effectively making the point that you think you are.  
 

 

[Bruffalo]

6 minutes ago, Magox said:

You don’t understand.  Scotty wanted a WR with the first pick, no matter what. NO Matter What! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!  
 

Doesn’t matter how many WR’s were picked up to this point, even if they didn’t have a first round grade or were not near the BPA on the Bills chart because Scotty wanted a WR!

 

HARUMPHH!!!

I guess there's an argument to be made for trading up and getting one of those WRs. The only guys I thought that would be worth it for the Bills would have been Chris Olave, Jameson Williams, or Garret Wilson and all of those guys were taken so early that you'd be giving up way too much. 

[BringMetheHeadofLeonLett]

Looking at the Bills coaching staff with DB's reminds me a lot of what the Dodgers do with pitchers.  If  Zierlein's write up here is close to accurate, this is all fixable.. except maybe the run D/tackling- that'll be up to his teammates to correct and inspire.  Sounds like a 2 year project who is going to get thrown into the fire day 1, whether he likes it or not:

 

By Lance Zierlein

NFL Analyst

Draft Projection

Round 1

NFL Comparison

Jaylon Johnson

Overview

Elam is the next up in a long line of talented Florida cornerbacks, but he failed to play his best football in his final collegiate season. He is patient and strong to mirror and impede releases but inconsistent staying connected to the early stages of the route. He plays with good awareness in zone and has the twitch and length to make plays on the throw when squatting in space. He was beat on deep patterns against Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia, which might have led to excessive grabbing and an overall lack of trust in his technique on the 2021 tape. He plays big at the catch point but smaller in run support. Elam has early CB3 and eventual CB2 value as a press and zone corner.

Strengths

Desired size, length and strength for press man.

Well-balanced with ability to crowd and stuff the release.

Patient feet rarely fall for release fakes.

Able to swivel hips and pursue with fluidity.

Mirrors shifting routes with basketball agility.

Rarely bites on the cheese against double moves.

Allows receiver to close the cushion for him in Cover 3 and quarters coverage.

Squeezes deep sideline routes with physicality.

Contested catches are typically tilted in his favor.

Solid transition quickness to plant and drive on the throw.

Some improvement in his tackling on 2021 tape.

Weaknesses

Loses his leverage unnecessarily.

Allows a little too much clearance early in the route.

Needs better open-and-sprint timing when squatting underneath.

Vertical specialists can overtake and stack him.

Inconsistent digesting route combinations.

Too much panic and grab in his 2021 tape.

Can improve his eye balance between the man and the ball.

Doesn't play to his size in run support duties.

Inconsistent coming to balance as open-field tackler.

[sirebors]

3 hours ago, Kingston Bills Fan said:

Trading up anytime is ok except to jump a team that has no need for the position you want why just throw the pick away? No reason to do it whatsoever

Do you not understand that it was possibly Baltimore the Bills were mainly concerned with and not Dallas. Baltimore was willing to deal and could have been actively taking offers from multiple teams interested in Elam. You don't just have to be concerned with Dallas. 

3 hours ago, Kingston Bills Fan said:

Because the team you jumped had no need for that position you could have waited three minutes and still have your 4th round pick seems pretty clear to me

Baltimore was shopping the pick! How do you not understand this? It's not Dallas you had to be concerned with, it's the other 30 teams in the league. 

[Old Coot]

Elam should fit in nicely.  He has two relatives who played in the NFL so he knows the score.

 

My only concerns are that he missed three games last season because of a knee injury and that his play was a bit inconsistent.  

 

Why come out after a junior season like that?

[Alphadawg7]

How can you not be excited about this kid?

 

 

[PrimeTime101]

4 hours ago, billsbackto81 said:

Far from BPA. 

 

Time will tell but for me it's meh, especially if Johnson, Booth and Lloyd become All Pro.

BPA is a MYTH until later rounds... how many times i been telling you guys that.. BPAAN  Best Player Available At Need. Period.

[Magox]

The one thing that sticks out to me from watching all his videos is his complete confidence and comfort in playing press man to man coverage against top end talent such as a Jameson Williams.   
 

You really have to have the confidence and physical ability to do that.  Most collegiate players would be scared shitless but not Elam.   He looks at ease and it’s because of his long frame, fluid hips, speed and mental toughness.

 

Also, I have read a couple people characterize him as “soft”, he’s not and he is a very willing tackler just that he lacks technique.    I am sure that the Bills will coach him up and that will get fixed.

 

He is going to provide the Bills so much flexibility in being able to play more press coverage than in years past, and now with all the WR’s coming into the division and conference the Bills have to be able to better matchup against these weapons.

 

My hopes are that the Bills select a WR and RB with their next two picks.  We have to keep getting offensive playmakers and there are still 3-4 RB’s and around 10 WR’s that can offer an immediate impact to the offense.

[GunnerBill]

2 hours ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

 

I know @GunnerBill did, definitely want your take on Booth sliding,  Gunny.

 

 

The thing none of us amateurs have access to is the medicals. With Booth I was incredulous that he would slide when the issue was simply a double hernia. I have had both hernias repaired during my soccer career. That is simply not a long term issue. The last week there have been more significant reports about his knee and potentially his neck and for a player of his talent to fall out of round 1 must mean the medicals prognosis is bad. He will still be worth the gamble to someone at some stage. I think back to the likes of Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith where that was early day 2. Maybe it is later. But I don't think to @HurlyBurly51's point anyone was saying "screw the medicals, pick him regardless." 

[LeGOATski]

Is it weird to say that Elam's play reminds me of Leodis McKelvin.....

[Rigotz]

A few of these comments feel like “wrong Josh” and I’m here for it

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, PrimeTime101 said:

BPA is a MYTH until later rounds... how many times i been telling you guys that.. BPAAN  Best Player Available At Need. Period.

 

Not for everyone. I agree most teams view it that way or a version thereof. But the Ravens have paid Chuck Clark, just paid Marcus Williams as a FA but let the board fall to them and took the Best Player Available - a safety. Baltimore are a BPA team. 

6 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

Is it weird to say that Elam's play reminds me of Leodis McKelvin.....

 

Nope. I can totally understand what you mean. And before people see that as a big negative Leodis was a very talented player who could just never quite put it all together. His career with McDermott and Frazier might have gone differently. 

Edited April 29, 2022 by GunnerBill

[Bruffalo]

27 minutes ago, Rigotz said:

A few of these comments feel like “wrong Josh” and I’m here for it

The immediate reaction was so negative, I was legitimately surprised by it.

[YoloinOhio]

 

[YoloinOhio]

 

[1ManRaid]

6 hours ago, drab08 said:

Just don't like the analysis I've heard that he doesn't like to tackle.

 

The analysis said Josh Allen would never be accurate.  Elam can be taught to be a more aggressive tackler.