Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam just turned 23 years old and has gotten a ton of repetitions this spring with veteran Rasul Douglas missing the voluntary organized team activities. Elam will be in line to challenge for a starting outside cornerback role in training camp and the preseason. He was taken with the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Florida, but he hasn't really panned out yet for the Bills secondary early in his career. It comes after Tre'Davious White left to play for the Los Angeles Rams. Elam will be competing with Douglas and Christian Benford for more snaps on the outside at cornerback as he heads into his third NFL season. At worst, Elam will be a key backup for the Bills defense this year.
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam (foot) was activated from the Injured Reserve list on Wednesday. The 2022 first-round pick was placed on IR with a foot injury following the Week 8 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has been sidelined for each of the last seven games. Elam was notably a healthy scratch early in the season, so his return will provide depth for Buffalo's secondary more than anything. The 22-year-old has racked up 55 tackles and two interceptions through his first 16 career games.
With Buffalo Bills starting cornerback Tre'Davious White (knee) expected to play a bit more in his second game of the season on Thursday night against the New England Patriots, first-round rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam is a healthy scratch. White, a two-time Pro Bowler, played just 16 defensive snaps in the Thanksgiving Day win over the Detroit Lions last Thursday, but he's expected to take on a much bigger role in Week 13. In his first year in the NFL, Elam has had his ups and downs and currently has 34 tackles (24 solo), two interceptions and three passes defensed in nine games played (six starts) for the Bills. Buffalo will surely need him down the stretch if they want to make a run to the Super Bowl.
The Buffalo Bills traded up in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft on Thursday to select Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam with the No. 23 overall selection. Instead of giving quarterback Josh Allen another weapon on offense, the Bills decided to solidify an already strong secondary with Elam. The 20-year-old was a late riser in this year's pre-draft process, even though he earned All-Freshman honors in the SEC in 2019. Elam stands at 6-foot-1, 191 pounds and ran a very fast 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He should start immediately in his rookie season across from Tre'Davious White. The Bills defense should be highly coveted in fantasy yet again.
Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam is another player that is making a last-minute move up draft boards on the eve of the first round of the NFL draft. Elam could be the third or fourth cornerback selected in this year's draft, which is much higher than the previous predictions that had him being taken toward the bottom of the first round. "Tall guys that can run, they don't stay on the board for long," one anonymous NFL executive said. Derek Stingley Jr. and Sauce Gardner are the two cornerbacks that are locks to come off the board early in the first round, but Elam has gained some steam himself this week. Elam's height (6-foot-1) and speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash) make him an intriguing corner prospect.
Kaiir Elam
• CB
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Bills
