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Big news dropped today for Cowboys Nation and it's shaking up the league. Kaiir Elam, the Buffalo Bills' 2022 first-round cornerback, is now a Dallas Cowboy. The trade, confirmed by dallascowboys.com, sees the Cowboys snag Elam and a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fifth-rounder and a 2026 seventh-round pick. After three up-and-down seasons in Buffalo, Elam's headed to the Lone Star State for a fresh shot, and both sides are buzzing about what's next.
Elam, who goes by "Kaiir", rolled into the NFL with high hopes as the Bills' No. 23 overall pick out of Florida. The 24-year-old showed flashes of brilliance early on-think two interceptions as a rookie, including a pick off Patrick Mahomes in a 2022 Bills win over the Chiefs.
"He's got the talent," a Bills insider told NFL.com, reflecting on his potential. But injuries and a crowded secondary slowed him down-12 starts in 29 games, with 81 tackles and six breakups total. In 2024, he notched 26 tackles and two deflections across 13 games, yet never locked down a full-time gig.
For Dallas, this trade's a savvy grab. With Trevon Diggs rehabbing a knee surgery and Jourdan Lewis bolting to the Jaguars, the Cowboys' secondary was screaming for depth. "We've got a history of taking chances on high draft picks," a team source said on espn.com, nodding to past moves like snagging Andrew Booth. Elam s DaRon Bland and a thin CB crew-think Kemon Hall and rehabbing rookie Caelen Carson-giving him a real shot to shine. Plus, his dad, Abram Elam, played safety for Dallas in 2006 and 2011.
How he fits with the Cowboys in 2025
Buffalo, meanwhile, cashes in on a player they weren't likely to keep long-term. Posts on X from Bills Mafia cheered, "Thank you, Jerry Jones!" as the trade nets them a fifth-rounder and clears $2.57 million in 2025 cap space, per Over the Cap.
"It's a smart move for assets," an NFL.com analyst noted, especially with Christian Benford stepping up as a top corner. Elam's man-coverage skills didn't always fit Buffalo's zone-heavy scheme-maybe Dallas' system will be his sweet spot.
Cowboys Nation's already hyped-will Elam turn his first-round pedigree into stardom? At 24, with a $2.57 million cap hit and a fifth-year option looming, he's got time to prove it.