Kaiir Elam traded to Cowboys

[GreggTX]

Good luck to Kaiir. I'm sorry it didn't work out with the Bills. Maybe he will get it together in Dallas.

[gonzo1105]

I’m honestly struggling to find a CB on the market, outside of obviously Samuel and Bills retreads Jackson, Douglas, and White. I’m trying to find anyone but it’s littered with guys who were busts, over the hill, coming off injury, or low end options. 

[Einstein]

47 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Every franchise has an Elam level bust at least once in the last 5 years. It's disappointing but not crippling. It does become a real problem if you stack consecutive 1st round busts. We need a lot more from Kincaid and Coleman starting this year. If those two bust right after Elam then Beane will have some very difficult questions to answer.

Agreed.

The worst part to me is not the Elam bust, but knowing you let your enemy jump ahead of you and grab an All-Pro at CB.

[CNYfan]

Just now, Einstein said:

Agreed.

The worst part to me is not the Elam bust, but knowing you let your enemy jump ahead of you and grab an All-Pro at CB.

The sad fact is that Chiefs beat us in April and January lately.  

[Mr. WEO]

Beane just filed away the 1 year contract for when Elam turns 30...

[Simon]

21 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Sincere question.  Where are you seeing this in his game? Have to go back to his Pitt days?  I think he was hurt all year in CAR

 

With the Bills obsession with keeping everything in front of them we don't get to see it very often, but even as a rookie when he should have been nervous, instead he was out there committing borderline assault on veteran receivers that were much bigger than him.

That boy has no fear and if McDermott allows it, he is a very effective corner playing physically in short areas.

[mjt328]

1 minute ago, BillsShredder83 said:

This was draft day (with hindsight).  WTF happened in the war room to warrant that kind of miscommunication?! Was McD in the bathroom?  Did we have a trade down put together, and last minute somebody backed out?  Did an assistant manger or another staffer have a MAJOR drop of the ball that lead to this?  I actually feel bad for Elam for us wasting 4 years.  Maybe he just sucks, but seemed to have the  right attitude.  Puzzling every which way, maybe we'll hear in a book in 20years.

 

Im a Beane maximalist, but this and AJE puzzle me.  Bringing in a guy with a skillset (or frame with AJE), and the plan is to tear him down completely and ask him to do something completely different.

 

Major gripe of mine.  The way people hate hearing about ST's around here is how I hate the "versatile" label we're obsessed with.  "A jack of all trades, is a master of none".  Give me a guy who specializes at one thing, especially at the NFL level.  Torrence comes to mind.  Sure find you a guy or two on each side of the ball like that... but seeing that word "versatile" come up continually with our roster building is annoying.

 

This is my somewhat educated guess to what happened with Kaiir Elam.

 

After the 13 seconds playoff game, there was a lot of talk about how the Bills secondary needed to become more skilled and versatile.  Our starters in that game were Levi Wallace and Dane Jackson (after Tre White tore his ACL on Thanksgiving).  Both were outside zone corners with limited physical upside, but who had fit well enough into Sean McDermott's scheme to be average starters.  A lot of people felt we needed someone who allowed us to play more man-coverage when needed. 

 

Then in free agency, Beane prioritized the pass rush and defensive line... ultimately landing Von Miller on a massive contract and Daquan Jones to shore up the middle.  These moves left us without much money to address the outside corner position, and a huge question mark going into the draft.

 

This led to Beane making an uncharacteristic desperation move for a corner, who had plenty of talent/upside, but really didn't fit our primary scheme. 

 

[TFBillsfan]

1 minute ago, mjt328 said:

 

This is my somewhat educated guess to what happened with Kaiir Elam.

 

After the 13 seconds playoff game, there was a lot of talk about how the Bills secondary needed to become more skilled and versatile.  Our starters in that game were Levi Wallace and Dane Jackson (after Tre White tore his ACL on Thanksgiving).  Both were outside zone corners with limited physical upside, but who had fit well enough into Sean McDermott's scheme to be average starters.  A lot of people felt we needed someone who allowed us to play more man-coverage when needed. 

 

Then in free agency, Beane prioritized the pass rush and defensive line... ultimately landing Von Miller on a massive contract and Daquan Jones to shore up the middle.  These moves left us without much money to address the outside corner position, and a huge question mark going into the draft.

 

This led to Beane making an uncharacteristic desperation move for a corner, who had plenty of talent/upside, but really didn't fit our primary scheme. 

 

Fast forward to 2025 and we have still struggle to put two quality CB’s on the field during the playoffs. 
 

Again this team needs playmakers on D but Beane and McDermott keeping going with mostly JAGs and we wonder why we can’t break thru!

[DCofNC]

Good trade for both teams and the player, he didn’t go in the first without a reason, maybe he can be a value to the boys, they have been making no names absolute studs lately.  He had obvious worn out his welcome here, any pick is better than cutting him out right.

8 minutes ago, mjt328 said:

 

This is my somewhat educated guess to what happened with Kaiir Elam.

 

After the 13 seconds playoff game, there was a lot of talk about how the Bills secondary needed to become more skilled and versatile.  Our starters in that game were Levi Wallace and Dane Jackson (after Tre White tore his ACL on Thanksgiving).  Both were outside zone corners with limited physical upside, but who had fit well enough into Sean McDermott's scheme to be average starters.  A lot of people felt we needed someone who allowed us to play more man-coverage when needed. 

 

Then in free agency, Beane prioritized the pass rush and defensive line... ultimately landing Von Miller on a massive contract and Daquan Jones to shore up the middle.  These moves left us without much money to address the outside corner position, and a huge question mark going into the draft.

 

This led to Beane making an uncharacteristic desperation move for a corner, who had plenty of talent/upside, but really didn't fit our primary scheme. 

 

He consistently drafts for need early and BPA late, funny which picks tend to work out, huh?

[Whites Bay]

1 hour ago, HIT BY SPIKES said:

Scoring a starter for each of our lines, a starting WR and a starting DB all in the 2nd round would be a dream draft.

Not being confrontational, just asking with respect to the bolded part..."a starter for EACH of our lines"?  Defensive line - no kidding!  I'd go DT over DE at this point.  But offensive line?  The existing line is pretty damn good, and the backups could realistically be trade fodder this week.  Just a personal (admittedly clueless) opinion, but I hope the front office doesn't burn a lot of draft capital on the offensive line.  Certainly not above Round 8.

[JohnNord]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

So is the 5th round of this year's draft like...JUST the Bills now?

In all seriousness, getting a 6th for 5th pick swap AND a future 7th for Elam is a huge win. Thank God for Jerruh "glory hole" Jones!

It also saves a few million in cap space 

[MasterStrategist]

7 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

With the Bills obsession with keeping everything in front of them we don't get to see it very often, but even as a rookie when he should have been nervous, instead he was out there committing borderline assault on veteran receivers that were much bigger than him.

That boy has no fear and if McDermott allows it, he is a very effective corner playing physically in short areas.

This is made up from you watching on TV?

 

If Elam was some sort of elite CB, he'd be playing here still.

 

McD and staff aren't coaching traits out of players.  If Elam regressed, it's because he was unable to adapt to the NFL game.

 

Somehow Benford developed into a very good corner, while Elam regressed.  Yep, coaches picking favorites.

 

Elam was a panic pick by Beane and staff.  Happens, every GM hits a bust.  But there was not a clear consensus on drafting Elam amongst the staff.

[billsfan89]

5th for a 6th this year plus getting a 7th in 2026 is a solid return, seems like that amounts to a mid to late 5th rounder. Cowboys taking a chance on Elam a player whose a very good athlete and might just need a change of scenery. Win/win trade. Best of luck to Elam.

[MiracleAtRich1393]

1 minute ago, billsfan89 said:

5th for a 6th this year plus getting a 7th in 2026 is a solid return, seems like that amounts to a mid to late 5th rounder. Cowboys taking a chance on Elam a player whose a very good athlete and might just need a change of scenery. Win/win trade. Best of luck to Elam.

Would be kinda funny if the 5th for 6th is we got their #170 and we gave up #179

[JMM]

28 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

Beane just filed away the 1 year contract for when Elam turns 30...

Best post of the day! 🤣

[PayDaBill$]

2 hours ago, Dunkirk Donski said:

I think we'll have all the 5th rounders in this draft

Good monopoly $$$ should we want to move up to snag a potential target. 

Edited 13 hours ago by PayDaBill$

[MrEpsYtown]

35 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

I’m honestly struggling to find a CB on the market, outside of obviously Samuel and Bills retreads Jackson, Douglas, and White. I’m trying to find anyone but it’s littered with guys who were busts, over the hill, coming off injury, or low end options. 

For me it’s Samuel, Okudah, St. Juste who could actually potentially start right away. Young guys with upside. And I think there is a gap between Samuel and those other guys. 
 

Jonathan Jones is gone to Washington. 

 

Dane Jackson is not the answer. I don’t think bringing back 31 is either. 

[Simon]

24 minutes ago, MasterStrategist said:

This is made up from you watching on TV?

 

This was a discussion with another poster about Dane Jackson

[MasterStrategist]

Just now, Simon said:

 

This was a discussion with another poster about Dane Jackson

Sorry missed that...pls excuse me as I leave lol

[MrEpsYtown]

10 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

For me it’s Samuel, Okudah, St. Juste who could actually potentially start right away. Young guys with upside. And I think there is a gap between Samuel and those other guys. 
 

Jonathan Jones is gone to Washington. 

 

Dane Jackson is not the answer. I don’t think bringing back 31 is either. 

This aged well, St Juste signed with the Chargers. So we know Samuel is not going back there.