2022 Top 25 Buffalo Bills 25 and Under: No. 8 Kaiir Elam
The Buffalo Bills have had one of the top secondaries in the NFL the past few seasons and that is what has seemed to be the annual question of who would start at cornerback opposite Tre’Davious White.
In the past, the team has brought in competition for Levi Wallace with players like Kevin Johnson, Josh Norman, and Dane Jackson. Each year, Wallace has won that competition and been the starter most of the year.
However, this season the Buffalo Bills didn’t have that option as Wallace would sign as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. To replace him, the Bills elected to invest a first round pick and select Kaiir Elam out of the University of Florida.
Kaiir Elam should have a big role as a rookie with the Buffalo Bills
While Kaiir Elam will need to compete for the starting job with Dane Jackson, the rookie has the potential to not only win that job but help elevate the secondary this season. Elam is a physical cornerback that does best in press coverage and this should give the coaching staff flexibility in switching up their coverage.
He is a long cornerback and at 6’1″ has the size to match up with the bigger wide receivers in the league. When considering Tre’Davious White is on the other side, he will certainly be tested as a rookie with quarterbacks likely throwing away from whichever side White is on.
There are likely going to be growing pains for Kaiir Elam during his first year with the Buffalo Bills but when looking at the roster, he is one of the best young players they have on the team. He is a player that should be an anchor for this defense for the foreseeable future and why he is ranked eight in these rankings of the Top 25 players who are 25 and under entering the 2022 season.