Grades for all eight draft picks made by Buffalo Bills in 2022 NFL Draft
Buffalo Bills Draft Pick: Kaiir Elam (1st Round, 23rd overall)
In the first round, the Buffalo Bills addressed their biggest need by selecting cornerback Kaiir Elam out of the University of Florida. The Bills were scheduled to pick 25th overall but moved up two spots after there was a run early in the round at cornerback as players like Derek Stingley Jr., Ahmad Gardner, and Trent McDuffie were selected before the Buffalo Bills pick.
Elam is a player that has all the physical tools to be an excellent cornerback in the NFL. He is 6’2″ and 191 pounds and has the size to really match up with any wide receiver in the league. In three seasons with Florida, he showed a good ability to play the ball with five interceptions and 20 pass breakups.
The biggest concern with the former Florida Gators’ defensive back was a down year during his final season in college. However, injuries could have played a role here as he was dealing with a knee injury that forced him to miss three games and could have lingered even after he returned.
In terms of the player, need, and value, this was an excellent pick for the Buffalo Bills as they get a cornerback that can start from Week 1 for this defense.