National media outlet says former Bills first round pick is facing a 'make or break' season in 2024
CBS Sports thinks a former Buffalo Bills first round pick is facing a make or break season in 2024. Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam, the No. 23 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, has had a tough start to his pro career. The former Florida Gators standout has played in just 16 games during his […]
CBS Sports thinks a former Buffalo Bills first round pick is facing a make or break season in 2024.
Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam, the No. 23 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, has had a tough start to his pro career.
The former Florida Gators standout has played in just 16 games during his first two seasons in the NFL. Elam has also struggled with penalties as times during his first years in Buffalo. As a result, CBS Sports thinks Elam needs a strong 2024 season to avoid be labeled as a "bust".
From CBS Sports: Troubled by injuries, general inconsistency in coverage and penalty-inducing grabbiness, it's been a real challenge for Elam to even stay on the field through his first two seasons in Buffalo, yet he hauled in two picks as a rookie — one in the end zone on a pass thrown by Patrick Mahomes — and has two career playoff interceptions.
The Bills hired a new cornerbacks coach from the collegiate ranks — Jahmile Addae — which could signal a fresh start for Elam. With Tre'Davious White now residing in Los Angeles, the Bills need Elam to finally play like a former first-round selection.
Elam has been wildly inconsistent. And the untimely penalties are obviously unacceptable for any NFL cornerback.
But Elam has shown a few flashes of the first round talent that led to Buffalo drafting him in 2022.
For example, during his rookie season in 2022, Elam prevented the world from experiencing another magical Patrick Mahomes moment when he intercepted the future Hall of Fame quarterback's pass in the end zone at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mahomes scrambled from the other side of the field to the home sideline and nearly threw a touchdown before it was picked off by Elam.
Elam also had a key interception for the Bills during the 2023 playoffs. With the Pittsburgh Steelers threatening to score, Elam intercepted quarterback Mason Rudolph's pass in the end zone, preserving Buffalo's 14 point lead at the time (the Bills would win 31-17).
There's no doubt that Elam is a talented player, but if he wants to be in Buffalo beyond the 2024 season, he'll have to show much better consistency this fall.
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