What does Elam and a pick get you in this market?

[FireChans]

1 hour ago, Ya Digg? said:

I don’t get why Elam is ever mentioned in any trade scenario. At no point has anyone made a logical argument as to why he should be traded, other than “he’s a first round pick that can’t get in the field” what team wants to trade for that? Just trying to trade him because you were able to trade him on your Madden franchise mode does not mean it makes sense for the Bills to trade him.

 

The fact is he has much more value to the Bills than a future year’s 6th round pick. As many have said if Benford or Douglas go down, he’s in the game. The Bills lost the KC playoff game in large part because they had injuries and didn’t have enough depth-sounds like some of you want to potentially play that game again 

 

15 hours ago, FireChans said:

Elam on his own is worth little, I agree. However, this is a league where former first round picks do sometimes garner more comp than they should, because of their pedigree.

 

Toney was traded 2 games into year two for a 3rd and a 6th. Jeff Okudah was traded for a fifth after being a massive injured bust in Detroit. CJ Henderson was traded with a fifth for a third rounder.

 

None of them particularly worked out, but you just have to find a sucker.

Here you go.

3 hours ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

Come on man - you are better than this.

 

Almost no 3rd string players have value.  Those are not the guys teams trade.  Teams trade for starting level players - Cooper, Adams, Hopkins,  Cam Robinson, etc. - and those starting level players return 5th and 6th round picks - so no Elam does not have value - neither does Ingram or Lewis.

 

That fact does not change the fact that Elam is a fine depth piece as @NewEra has said.  He is our #3 depth corner at the boundary - it has been great that he has not had to play because it means the starters are healthy.  Lewis was filling in for Johnson and only saw snaps as the dime inside DB the last 2 games.  Ingram was filling in for Lewis as Dime and has not played defense the last 2 weeks with people healthy - they have specific roles.

 

Whether they trade Elam or not ends up irrelevant- if they trade him - the Bills would need to find another boundary corner because Ingram and Lewis are not that and they need depth at that spot.  He provides depth and the fact that he is not worth anything on the trade market also is consistent because anything beyond top end starter have little value, but they have more value to their current team with playbook knowledge and specific roles.

 

 

Okay. Trade Elam AND trade for Dane Jackson. I am convinced. We must stay strong at CB5.

[Rochesterfan]

1 minute ago, FireChans said:

 

Here you go.

Okay. Trade Elam AND trade for Dane Jackson. I am convinced. We must stay strong at CB5.

Great and you don’t think the 2 trades offset for trade costs and Dane is not as good of a player. 
 

So you weaken the team for almost no benefit as neither player is worth anything in trade value.

 

A STARTING LT was just traded from a team that thought they were a contender for a swap of late round picks in 2026.  
 

Elam and Dane Jackson are worth swapping 7th round picks in 2027 and Elam is still the better player and provides more to the Bills - so why waste it.

 

Yes of course - if you find a sucker offering a 2nd great swap Elam and go get Dane, but don’t make the trade to make the trade. 

[peterpan]

Elams value is this.

 

Elam and a 2026 7th for a 2026 6th.

 

he is essentially worthless.  

[BADOLBILZ]

13 hours ago, Dan in Owego said:

Tennessee must do this, please please please🤩 Simmons in our rotation along with our edge players could really wreck havoc in the playoffs.

Could you kick in Bass to even it up? our would the Titans shy away from that deal?

 

Bass can't be moved without a re-structure because of dead money.   If the Bills get another kicker I suspect they'd have to keep Bass on the 53 all season anyway.

[T master]

Doesn't Jacksonville play a ton of man concepts in their D & that's what he was known for in college correct ? If so trade him there for some picks or another player that could help us 🤔 .

Edited 23 hours ago by T master

[FireChans]

1 hour ago, Rochesterfan said:

Great and you don’t think the 2 trades offset for trade costs and Dane is not as good of a player. 
 

So you weaken the team for almost no benefit as neither player is worth anything in trade value.

 

A STARTING LT was just traded from a team that thought they were a contender for a swap of late round picks in 2026.  
 

Elam and Dane Jackson are worth swapping 7th round picks in 2027 and Elam is still the better player and provides more to the Bills - so why waste it.

 

Yes of course - if you find a sucker offering a 2nd great swap Elam and go get Dane, but don’t make the trade to make the trade. 

Dane isn’t as good of a player as Elam? Is that why McD and co have started Dane over Elam basically their entire careers here?

 

2022 snaps

 

Dane - 829

 

Elam - 477

 

2023 snaps

 

Dane - 463

 

Elam - 157

 

man it sure seems like the coaches don’t agree.

 

Anywho, Jacksonville doesn’t think they are a contender. They are sellers looking for the next few years. They are 2-6 lol.

Edited 23 hours ago by FireChans

[boyst]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think if he wanted to do a short term deal it would have happened last offseason. He wanted a longer term commitment. He has only really had one decent contract in his career. Before that he was on and off practice squads on vet minimum. I think there is very little chance he comes back without at least testing his market personally. 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/_/year/2025/position/cb/sort/contract_value

The tiers of the free agent CB's are amazing.

 

You have 3 out and above the rest. You have a mixed bag beneath that ranging from Byron Murphy who has had his moments to the stalwart Stephon Gilmore filling up the rest of the space until you hit the guys we might target specifically a value signing like Mike Hilton and those shortly below. He's the backside of 30 and could start on this team to shore us up into the draft.

 

I am curious what Douglas signs for...

[GunnerBill]

16 minutes ago, boyst said:

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/_/year/2025/position/cb/sort/contract_value

The tiers of the free agent CB's are amazing.

 

You have 3 out and above the rest. You have a mixed bag beneath that ranging from Byron Murphy who has had his moments to the stalwart Stephon Gilmore filling up the rest of the space until you hit the guys we might target specifically a value signing like Mike Hilton and those shortly below. He's the backside of 30 and could start on this team to shore us up into the draft.

 

I am curious what Douglas signs for...

 

Yea I'm thinking for the Bills of someone in that Isaiah Oliver to Mike Hughes kinda tier. A guy who has been a starter and if they start they can be passable, but ideally you want as your solid vet on the bench. Let them compete with Elam and a draft pick and may the best man win. 

[billieve420]

Bills need to figure out if Elam is part of their long term plan or not. If you think he can still potentially be a starter in this league. You have to consider letting Rasul Douglas walk in FA and drafting someone in his place. Elam can then be the short term solution and get his opportunity to play alongside Benford. Key player the Bills need to focus on resigning before his deal is up is Benford in my opinion. Don't think you will be able to pay both starters.

[Matt_In_NH]

His and hers ham sandwiches

[boyst]

34 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea I'm thinking for the Bills of someone in that Isaiah Oliver to Mike Hughes kinda tier. A guy who has been a starter and if they start they can be passable, but ideally you want as your solid vet on the bench. Let them compete with Elam and a draft pick and may the best man win. 

i hated losing Levi Wallace and Dane Jackson. We haven't replaced them. they are passable and were vets on the bench.