Cornerback Kaiir Elam has not worked out in Buffalo, and the Bills could trade him after two disappointing seasons. A first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Elam was supposed to solidify a talented secondary and help Buffalo slow down the elite passing attacks of the AFC. Instead, the Florida product has failed to make an impact at the professional level. Injuries limited Elam to just three games last year, but his on-field tape leaves plenty to be desired. According to Pro Football Focus, he had a subpar 58.8 grade in 2023 and an equally underwhelming 56.7 grade in 2022.
Perhaps Kaiir Elam doesn’t have what it takes to play in the NFL, but a trade could bring out the best in the veteran. Defensive production relies heavily on schemes, so he could perform better in a new environment. After all, he was a first-round pick for a reason. Bleacher Report‘s Ryan Fowler suggests the Bills could deal the veteran, and the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens could roll the dice on Elam.
Panthers, Ravens Could Trade For Kaiir Elam
The Carolina Panthers won’t win the Super Bowl in 2024, but they should be better than they were last year. While the franchise will still live and die with former first-overall pick Bryce Young, players like Diontae Johnson, Robert Hunt, and first-round pick Xavier Legette will make life easier for the Alabama product. Unfortunately, all these additions came at the expense of the defense, as the unit replaced Brian Burns with Jadeveon Clowney and lacks playmakers throughout the roster. A Kaiir Elam trade won’t turn this team into the Legion of Boom, but he could help.
Carolina came close to signing Stephon Gilmore before the NFL Draft, but the two sides couldn’t make the money work. The Panthers want more help at cornerback, and with Gilmore in Minnesota, a Kaiir Elam trade might be their best bet. Jaycee Horn is a good player when healthy, but the former top-10 pick struggles to stay on the field. Maybe Elam will continue to disappoint, but the Panthers have nothing to lose by kicking the tires and swapping late-round picks for the defensive back.
Ravens Buying Low
Few teams are better at developing players than the Baltimore Ravens. While they haven’t won the Super Bowl since 2012, the team has been one of the league’s most consistent squads in large part due to their ability to successfully identify and develop players. Kaiir Elam might not be a homegrown talent, but the Ravens could trade for him and see if they can bring out the talent that make him a first-round pick just two years ago.
Baltimore already has a talented secondary headlined by cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, and Arthur Maulet. However, there is no such thing as too many reliable defensive backs, especially when you share a conference with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow. Kaiir Elam won’t face any pressure to start, and the trade candidate could turn this unit into the NFL’s best defense if he puts it all together in Baltimore.
Main Photo: Shawn Dowd – USA Today Sports
