Four defensive backs who could entice KC chiefs in first round
By Matt Conner
Kaiir Elam
If the last name sounds familiar here in the secondary, you deserve high scores for your own recognition skills. Kaiir Elam is the nephew of Matt Elam, the former first-round safety for the Baltimore Ravens who is now playing in the Canadian Football League. The ability to defend the pass at a high level runs in the familial bloodlines here, and any team would be quite fortunate to land Elam at the bottom of the first round, including the Chiefs.
Elam comes into the league as a taller corner at 6’2, which gives him the length that Steve Spagnuolo obviously likes in Kansas City. He’s also going to remind scouts of the man he’d likely replace for the Chiefs on the field in Charvarius Ward given that he can be overly physical at times. One scout used the term “suffocating” on how he can play opposing wideouts. Ward was an ideal corner for K.C. even as he earned the occasional flag, and that might also be the case with Elam.
Florida asks a lot of their corners in terms of versatility, so Elam comes to the league with some understanding of most roles in the secondary. He also has 20 passes deflected and 5 interceptions over the last three years.
Like nearly every young corner entering the NFL, there are questions about his tackling here from scouts but he’s improved against the run and is a quick learner. He’s played at Florida since his days as a true freshman, and that sort of adaptability will serve him well as he’s coached up at the pro level.