The Buffalo Bills have agreed to trade cornerback Kaiir Elam to the Dallas Cowboys, giving him a new start in the NFC East. A former first-round pick out of Florida who landed with Buffalo at 23rd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Elam was unable to develop into a reliable starter in three seasons.

As reported by Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, details of the trade are as follows:

• Bills receive: 2025 fifth-round pick (No. 170 overall), 2026 seventh-round pick
• Cowboys receive: CB Kaiir Elam, 2025 sixth-round pick pick (No. 204 overall)

By trading Elam now, general manager Brandon Beane finds a way out of the unproductive player’s salary of $2.5 million in 2025.

Elam’s tenure with Buffalo will be one remembered as disappointing — a player never fully able to put all his athletic traits together and claim either outside starting cornerback role. During Elam’s rookie season, there were flashes of his talent, but his limitations as a zone defender and penchant for a physical brand of football that welcomes flags made him a liability on game days.

In four starts and 13 total games with the Bills, Elam made 26 tackles (17 solo), two tackles for loss, two pass defenses, and one fumble recovery.

(stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference)

What’s mentioned most when discussing Elam is that the Bills drafted cornerback Christian Benford out of Villanova in the sixth round of the same draft. Where Elam struggled, Benford has shined — especially as a zone-cover cornerback who’s begun to make a huge name for himself in NFL circles.

When it clicks for Elam in spurts, he plays exceptional football. He’s shown a particular knack for interceptions in the red zone. Game-changing interceptions against the Kansas City Chiefs his rookie season, and Buffalo’s Super Wild Card Weekend win against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2023 NFL season stand out.

But the lows have far outnumbered the highs, with the most recent example happening during the Bills’ AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Elam was called to action off the bench following Benford’s concussion, and the results weren’t encouraging. Keeping in mind that Elam had not been the starter all season and was not part of the intended plan against the Chiefs, he still failed to inspire confidence as a player who can step up when his team needs him.

Much has been made of the relationship between now-former defensive backs coach John Butler and Kaiir Elam. The two reportedly didn’t mesh well, with Elam unresponsive to the tough-love brand of coaching Butler employed.

Things apparently came to a head between Butler and One Bills Drive following the news that Bobby Babich was promoted to defensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 NFL season. With Butler out of the picture, speculation was that perhaps Elam was given a fresh start and better opportunity to succeed.

As we know now, that didn’t come to pass last season, despite Jahmile Addae being named the team’s new cornerbacks coach in 2024. This, despite Addae stating that Elam was impressing and working “tirelessly” during training camp.

This offseason, Elam watched two of his Bills 2022 draft class teammates sign new deals with Buffalo. The Bills inked wide receiver Khalil Shakir to a four-year extension on February 25, rewarding him with a $53 million contract that includes $31.8 million guaranteed. Then on Friday, March 7, Buffalo gave linebacker Terrel Bernard a four-year, $50 million contract extension with $25.2 million guaranteed.

Then on Saturday, March 8, Buffalo and defensive end Greg Rousseau also agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $80 million, with $54 million guaranteed per sources shared with ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter.

Considering that Christian Benford and running back James Cook are among the hottest names when discussing who next signs a contract extension with the Bills, Elam was left on the outside looking in for his next opportunity in a new city.

At this stage of his career and set to turn 24 in May, the fresh start he needs may very well be found with the Cowboys. Kaiir Elam is an easy player to root for, because everyone loves an underdog story. Here’s to hoping we’re about to see the best version of Elam in Dallas.