The Buffalo Bills took a cornerback in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. They wouldn’t have had to do that if their first-round pick from a few years ago worked out. But Kaiir Elam didn’t, and he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
The trade for Elam wrapped up at the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Bills sent the Cowboys a late pick.
Cowboys receive: Kaiir Elam, 2025 sixth-round pickBills receive: 2025 fifth-round selection, 2026 seventh-round selection
After everything settled out in the 2025 NFL draft order, the Cowboys received the 204th pick back from Buffalo and the Bills get the 170th pick, a difference of 34 picks.
Cowboys receive: Kaiir Elam, 2025 204th overall pickBills receive: 2025 170th overall pick, 2026 228th overall pick
Buffalo received the 170th overall pick in 2025 for Kaiir Elam. They used it to select their second cornerback of the draft, picking Ohio State CB Jordan Hancock. He’ll essentially fill Elam’s spot on the roster, it would seem.
The Bills traded pick 228 in 2026 to the Las Vegas Raiders as part of the Taron Johnson trade earlier this offseason. 228 and Johnson went to Vegas for the 182nd overall pick.
Dallas received the 204th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft as part of the deal for Kaiir Elam. They selected Oregon OT Ajani Cornelius with the pick.
Elam played ten games in Dallas, starting seven, before being released. That was a function more of how awful the Cowboys’ defense was. He had 29 tackles and one pass defended.
He latched on with the Titans for the end of the season. He signed with the Chiefs this offseason.