The Dallas Cowboys are banking on a change of scenery unlocking Kaiir Elam's first-round talent.
The former Buffalo Bills cornerback, acquired via trade, brings elite measurables at 6-foot-1 and 191 pounds, with 4.39 speed and a 37.5-inch vertical.
But beyond the numbers, Elam possesses a rare physical edge, a corner who tackles almost like a linebacker. That trait alone makes him a fascinating addition to Eberflus' defense especially when you factor in the importance of stopping the run against playoff caliber opponents.
That shortcoming was the fatal flaw that plagued coordinator Dan Quinn's defense throughout his tenure. Teams that were either already dominant in the run game or were willing to break tendency and commit to it often had their way with the Cowboys defense.
As for Elam, Buffalo's scheme was built on two-high safety shells and zone coverage. Thus, the scheme didn't exactly suit him. It's also worth noting that he was such a failure there that Bills fans are equally shocked and thrilled they were able to get anything out of him in trade.
Needless to say he wasn't exactly a fan favorite in Buffalo.
Is there untapped potential here?
A press-man corner by trade, in Buffalo he was a square peg in a round hole.
Dallas, with a low-risk gamble of exchanging low-round picks in the swap, presents an opportunity to play to Elam's strengths, maybe allowing him to thrive in a system that values physicality and more aggressive coverage.
It obviously never worked out for Elam with #Bills, but I'll reiterate it was not from a lack of effort.
I saw Kaiir regularly working extra after practice over these past few years.
Maybe fresh start will change things. https://t.co/6itxcOmJ54
— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) March 12, 2025
This move also speaks to scouting guro Will McClay's trust in new coordinator Matt Eberflus. With linebacker development as his calling card, Eberflus once helped the Dallas defense, then turned the Colts' defense into a strength, thus earning a head coaching job in Chicago.
Now, he's influencing personnel decisions in Dallas, and McClay is clearly listening.
History isn't kind to first-rounders who struggle early, but at 23 years old, Elam has time to rewrite his story.
This is likely a one-year, $2.5 million experiment ... with a team that could really use a starting corner as DaRon Bland mans one spot and as we wait on a rehabbing Trevon Diggs to eventually handle the other.
If Dallas' defensive vision aligns with his skill set, this could be a viable career reset.
Some players fade after a bad fits. Others, hopefully like Elam, just need the right system to flourish.
Related: Cowboys Trade For 1st-Round Cornerback of Bills
Related: Bills 'Fleece Jerry' As Kaiir Elam Gets 1-Way Trade Ticket Out of Buffalo
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This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM.