The Buffalo Bills have to wonder where things went wrong with Kaiir Elam. Their first-round investment in the now-journeyman cornerback speaks for itself as to their belief in Elam, but it's not as if Buffalo stepped out on a limb to make the pick. In fact, it's hard to find an NFL Draft expert who wasn't singing Elam's praises a few years ago.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the current employers of Elam, which might have sounded like an exciting future development back in 2022. Instead, the Chiefs are just the latest franchise to try to squeeze some juice out of a prospect who has already been shown the door by three other teams, including the one that drafted him.
Elam is now on his fourth NFL team in the last 15 months, and it's quite possible that K.C. is his last stop if he can't figure something out. There are only so many chances for a prospect, even with the first-round feather in his cap. Looking back at what everyone said about the former Florida defensive back before the draft, it's confusing as to how he's failed to make a dent in the NFL thus far.
Kaiir Elam entered the NFL with enormous expectations
Remember that Elam was widely considered a likely first-round prospect by pretty much anyone with a significant draft platform. Elam had 20 pass deflections and 6 interceptions in three seasons in SEC play for the Gators, showing strong ball skills as a (sometimes overly) physical corner who came up big against receivers like Jameson Williams, DeVonta Smith, and more. His 4.39-second time in the 40-yard dash, mixed with his 6-2 frame, projected him as an impactful player at the next level.
The player comps for Elam as a prospect were also exciting. Bleacher Report compared Elam to four-time Pro Bowler Antonio Cromartie, while Dane Brugler said Elam reminded him of New England Patriots corner Carlton Davis. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com brought up Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson. The production and projections created big expectations for Elam at the next level—not just in the Bills' front office.
KC is offering Elam another opportunity to prove himself
Can the Chiefs tap into that potential? Is that potential even still there? While K.C. has brought in a lot of new competitors at cornerback, the truth is that the door is wide open for Elam—if he's able to walk through it. The departures of Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and company were significant, and the Chiefs need several players to step up in their wake.
The Chiefs' positional coaches have an impressive history of unearthing gems at corner in recent years, so there's reason for fans to have faith that Elam might turn into a useful part in Kansas City. But the fact that the Bills, Dallas Cowboys, and Tennessee Titans have all taken a crack at it in the last calendar year should temper any real expectations. Still, Elam was a worthy low-risk flyer for Brett Veach to take in an offseason of reinvention at the position.
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