Buffalo Bills CB Kaiir Elam 'Worth Watching' Ahead of Trade Deadline
There’s a difference between simply being inactive on game day and the situation that Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam has found himself in.
The Bills beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Highmark Stadium on Thursday, 24-18, to kick off Week 8’s festivities. It was in no part thanks to Elam.
The second-year corner and former first-round pick was a healthy scratch for the fifth time this season, despite starting cornerback Tre’Davious White remaining out for the season with an Achilles injury. Buffalo didn’t just plug in any other depth corner, though. The Bills signed veteran cornerback Josh Norman to the practice squad after White’s injury and elevated him for Thursday’s contest.
Elam intercepts a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the playoffs in 2022.
© Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
For those unaware, Norman will turn 36 in a month and a half. He played in just two regular season games last season and hasn’t been a productive corner since quarterback Josh Allen’s rookie season. To his credit, he was asked to do something they deemed Elam couldn’t—play special teams—and he delivered with a big hit that made its way around social media.
Week 8 was just another page in what could be the final chapter of Elam’s story in Buffalo, especially with the trade deadline approaching on Oct. 31.
ESPN reported that both Elam and New England Patriots edge rusher Josh Uche could find themselves in new uniforms come Week 9.
“Two AFC East names worth watching at the trade deadline: Bills corner Kaiir Elam and Patriots pass rusher Josh Uche,” Jeremy Fowler tweeted. “Both players have garnered trade interest, per sources.”
The Bills are expected to at least inquire about talents that could help them in a playoff run, but dealing Elam allows him a chance to flourish and could recoup draft capital that the team plans to spend.
He’d likely be headed to a man-heavy team for the cost of a late-round pick or swap. Teams like the Patriots or Arizona Cardinals, in theory, check those boxes.
Buffalo has made it clear that Elam’s time is running out in Western New York. Giving him a fresh start and slightly boosting future draft assets is likely a better solution than letting him ride the bench at the hands of the sunk-cost fallacy.
