The Dallas Cowboys have addressed a significant need in their secondary by trading for former first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam from the Buffalo Bills. In the deal, Dallas will receive Elam along with a sixth-round pick in 2025, while the Bills will obtain a fifth-round pick in the same year and a seventh-rounder in 2026.

Elam, selected 23rd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, has struggled to find his place in Buffalo, starting only 12 of his 29 games over three seasons. Although he recorded two interceptions as a rookie, he hasn’t had any in the last two seasons. However, he did have two tackles for loss in 2024.

His performance stands out somewhat with a passer rating against of 72.3 as the primary defender, ranking him 103rd among NFL players with at least 80 targeted passes since 2022. This acquisition comes at a crucial juncture for the Cowboys, especially with Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs recovering from an injury and Jourdan Lewis signing with the Jaguars.

Elam will compete with rookie Caelen Carson for a starting position alongside DaRon Bland, as Diggs is unlikely to return to full strength for the opening week of the next season.