After three seasons with the Payments, Kaiir Elam is on the transfer. Buffalo has agreed to commerce the previous first-round nook to the Cowboys, as first reported by The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson.
Dallas will ship Buffalo a fifth-round decide in 2025 together with a future seventh-rounder in alternate for Elam and a sixth-round choice, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. This can give Elam a contemporary begin after struggling to carve out a beginning position on the Payments’ protection. Presuming the Cowboys intend to say no his fifth-year possibility this spring, 2025 will characterize his stroll 12 months. Confirming the deal, the Payments introduced the seventh-round decide can be in 2026.
Elam had a powerful three-year school profession at Florida, and expectations had been excessive upon arrival in Buffalo because the No. 23 decide within the 2022 draft. He made six begins and 13 appearances as a rookie, gathering a pair of interceptions. That showcased his potential to an extent, however since then Elam has not developed as hoped.
The 23-year-old tore an ankle ligament previous to the beginning of his second Payments season, and after trying to play by way of the damage he was on injured reserve for an prolonged stretch. Elam appeared in solely three video games that 12 months, discovering himself handed on the depth chart by Christian Benford (who has set himself up nicely to be one of many subsequent Payments to safe a profitable extension). Even with out Tre’Davious White within the fold in 2024, Elam solely dealt with a 35% snap share on protection, one thing which additional fueled commerce hypothesis.
The latter’s departure will clear up $2.57M in cap area for the Payments. That determine represents Elam’s 2025 wage as he appears to construct his worth throughout the last 12 months of his rookie contract. Incomes no less than a rotational position in a secondary which is ready to lose longtime slot starter Jourdan Lewis would give the Cowboys a cheap possibility on the cornerback spot. Dallas nonetheless has Trevon Diggs on the books by way of 2028 (as his knee rehab continues), whereas fellow perimeter cowl man DaRon Bland is coming into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal.
Final August, the Cowboys made the same transfer in trading for cornerback Andrew Sales space. The previous Vikings second-rounder had a modest position on protection with Dallas in 2024, and he too is ready to see his rookie deal expire after the approaching marketing campaign. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see if the buy-low strategy with Elam pans out and results in a long-term dedication from his new staff.
