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 choose in 2025 together with a future seventh-rounder in alternate for Elam and a sixth-round choice, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Community. It will 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 signify his stroll 12 months. Confirming the deal, the Payments introduced the seventh-round choose will likely be in 2026.
Elam had a robust three-year faculty profession at Florida, and expectations have been excessive upon arrival in Buffalo because the No. 23 choose within the 2022 draft. He made six begins and 13 appearances as a rookie, amassing 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 means of the harm 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 in the course of the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract. Incomes a minimum of a rotational position in a secondary which is about 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 means of 2028 (as his knee rehab continues), whereas fellow perimeter cowl man DaRon Bland is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal.
Final August, the Cowboys made the same transfer in buying and selling for cornerback Andrew Sales space. The previous Vikings second-rounder had a modest position on protection with Dallas in 2024, and he too is about to see his rookie deal expire after the approaching marketing campaign. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the buy-low method with Elam pans out and results in a long-term dedication from his new staff.
