After watching his time with the Buffalo Bills end in disappointment and getting an abrupt release from the Dallas Cowboys, former first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam is getting another NFL opportunity.
The Bills traded the struggling defensive back to the Cowboys in the offseason, but his time in Dallas came to an end when he was released this week. Elam is starting over with a new team, getting the opportunity to turn around his NFL career.
Kaiir Elam Lands in the AFC South
The Tennessee Titans announced on Wednesday that they signed Elam, just days after he was cut loose by the Cowboys. The cornerback also had a workout with the New York Jets, but instead landed with a team where he has the chance to compete for playing time.
Elam had appeared in 10 games with the Cowboys, including seven starts. He made 29 total tackles and one pass defensed.
He came to Dallas in an offseason trade after falling down the depth chart in Buffalo. The Bills had traded up in the 2022 NFL Draft to land Elam in the first round, but he struggled to find a place on the team.
Though there were high hopes for Elam in his rookie season — with the Bills in need of a replacement for the injured Tre’Davious White — Elam was surpassed by sixth-round rookie Christian Benford on the depth chart.
He appeared in 13 games with four starts in 2024, struggling in coverage. Elam was pressed into playing after Benford suffered a concussion in the AFC Championship game, with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes often targeting Elam as the Chiefs won to reach the Super Bowl.
Bills Take Another Swing at Cornerback
The Bills invested another first-round draft pick on a cornerback this year, taking Maxwell Hairston. Though he missed a large chunk of the season after suffering a knee injury in training camp, Hairston has looked strong since taking the field and has split time with White opposite Benford.
Hairston is in danger of missing this week’s critical game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after landing in concussion protocol during last week’s loss to the Houston Texans.
The Bills did bring in some help on offense, signing veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks after he was released by the New Orleans Saints earlier in the week.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said the team is excited to get Cooks into the lineup and utilize his unique skill set, hinting that he could see playing time this week.
âGood addition,â McDermott said, via the Democrat & Chronicle. âGone against him a number of times, always respected his game, has good speed, knows how to play the position. Some guys have good speed but theyâre not true wide receivers and football players; heâs a combination of both. And like I said, I have a lot of respect for his game. By all accounts, from people that have been around him, some of whom are in our building already, they talk very highly of his professionalism and what he can do. And so, yeah, itâs a good addition to us.â
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