Nobody loves taking fliers on former first-round picks more than the Dallas Cowboys. While there's something to be said about buying low on supposed blue-chip talent, determining the success of these reclamation projects is as simple as trusting their track record in the league.
More often than not, players are who they are. Only in rare instances does a former high pick actually enjoy a renaissance.
The Cowboys learned the hard way with cornerback Kaiir Elam, who was waived after they signed running back Malik Davis to the active roster. Dallas sent a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for Elam. They got a 2025 sixth-round pick from Buffalo, which they used on offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius.
Cowboys waive Kaiir Elam months after trading for him in the offseason
While Cornelius looks like a serviceable backup, there's no sugarcoating that the Cowboys lost this trade. Sure, Elam only cost two Day 3 picks, but you don't trade for a former first-round pick without planning him to be a key part of your team.
It started like that, as Elam played every defensive snap in the first three games. However, his playing time has plummeted as the cornerback room has gotten healthier. He played 95 percent of the snaps against the Broncos in Week 6, but that dropped to 61.2 percent versus the Cardinals, to not even seeing the field on defense against the Raiders.
The writing was seemingly on the wall with Elam, but Cowboys fans figured it would be Trikweze Bridges who got waived, given that he was signed right before the season. Acquired in March, Elam had more familiarity with the coaching staff. While Bridges certainly hasn't been great, Elam has been worse. It's refreshing that merit won out in this case.
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Elam only allowed a 61.4 percent completion rate when targeted, but a whopping 13.1 yards per reception and a 112.6 passer rating. The latter stat is the 12th-worst among cornerbacks who have played at least 250 coverage snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Elam's release speaks to the confidence the Cowboys have in Shavon Revel and Caelen Carson. A third-round pick this year, Revel played in his first NFL game against the Raiders. It's only one game, but he put out really impressive tape, especially in press-man. Carson, meanwhile, has played at a high level after making his season debut two weeks go versus the Cardinals.
Let this serve as a lesson to Jerry and Stephen Jones that not every former first-round pick is salvageable. Trade for or sign players who have a proven track record in the league.