RD 1, Pick 23: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida

[NickelCity]

7 minutes ago, BillsEnthusiast said:

 

Did you see that one Texans pick? Dude looked like he just found out his dog got run over by a truck lmao

 

link!

[Warcodered]

2 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

1) Football character

2) Length

3) Skill set built for zone

4) Athletic upside

 

He checks all the boxes.

That's smart, one it's a great question to ask for the team to like him, two this is a team that's done great with DBs getting some knowledge from them will help even if he doesn't go to that team.

[ExWNYer]

1 minute ago, BillsEnthusiast said:

 

No, Kenyon Greene. Their 15th overall

 

I missed that. They have an uphill climb to turn the culture around there. They need these two guys to help lead the way as "can't miss" prospects.

[MasterStrategist]

Just now, Airseven said:

Since when do 4th round picks not make the roster? It’s a lot to give up for a player like Elam who will need time to develop. I can’t imagine he starts this season. Right now he looks like a walking PI in the pros. Grabs, holds, guesses. Nevermind his tackling issues.  Fills a need and he was likely one of their last first round grades. Not a bad pick but the critiques of the player and trade are valid.

Agree, about the 4th being valuable.

 

However, disagree with the rest.  Elam is extremely hard-working, already has a professional attitude and likely will have his "fundamental flaws" coached out of him by the end of training camp.  He's going to start and be a good one for a while.  

 

Giving up the 4th round pick to secure the player they wanted (many will also say 'needed'), is the price Beane was willing to pay.  He's earned my trust, especially given their track record with secondary acquisitions. 

[muppy]

1 minute ago, ExWNYer said:

 

I also DVR'd all three networks when they were on the clock but haven't watched them back yet. I saw his presser on the Bills FaceBook Live feed.

I Love the NFL draft a lot of anticipation and excitement before during And after! ......Hasta manana ......when we all  meet to do it again. Goodnite 2bd

 

Great Night!~!~!!!

[Doc]

10 minutes ago, Airseven said:

Since when do 4th round picks not make the roster? It’s a lot to give up for a player like Elam who will need time to develop. I can’t imagine he starts this season. Right now he looks like a walking PI in the pros. Grabs, holds, guesses. Nevermind his tackling issues.  Fills a need and he was likely one of their last first round grades. Not a bad pick but the critiques of the player and trade are valid.

 

The roster is stacked.  A 4th rounder was more likely to make the PS than the 53.  And start?  LOL!

Edited April 29, 2022 by Doc

[Mr. WEO]

5 minutes ago, Bruffalo said:

Ah yeah, the great Can Newton.

 

You know they won a superbowl right? You could do a lot worse than that run of years Carolina had when he was at his peak. That's really not the insult you're trying to make it out to be. Allen has a much better throwing motion too so the window is just going to be open longer. 

 

Full disclosure, I wanted a WR too, but I don't want them to reach for one.  There was no WR left on that board that had a 1st round consensus.  It's just a fact.  The IOL was gone. Going RB is just bad business. CB2 is a logical and good place for them to invest in, and now we have a cost controlled asset opposite White for the next five years.

 

I really don't understand your logic here. Who was on the board that was the obvious pick over Elam, or even CB?

 

huh?

[Warcodered]

 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

1 hour ago, djp14150 said:

He’s 6-2 with 4.3-4.4 speed

I missed the draft and don’t really follow much college football…regardless I’m shocked that a tall fast corner is supposedly not a wow pick lol 

[mannc]

6 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

1) Football character

2) Length

3) Skill set built for zone

4) Athletic upside

 

He checks all the boxes.

Can he return punts?

[BillsShredder83]

1 hour ago, Sestak4ever said:

I agree. If he fills his role well then our secondary will be awesome along with Von Miller pressuring along with Rousseau, etc. I also heard the Rousseau has added a good 15 lbs. of muscle this off season. A great pass rush with excellent coverage is a recipe for success, and I'm sure that's how our front office and coaching staff view it.

it would be more surprising if this werent the case, but any idea where you read it? this guy has the frame to easily do this imo

[Warcodered]

I do know at least one other person disappointed with this pick.

 

[HurlyBurly51]

10 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

Im hoping we may see some changes to the defensive philosophy to take advantage of Elam’s excellent press man abilities.

From your mouth to Frazier’s ears!

[Rochesterfan]

22 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

I think if you look across the league(especially after tonight) the depth at wide out is considerable better everywhere…. Just about every team has two solid starting receivers…. And the better ones have at least 3…. It’s pushed the Bills down the league at the position IMO.
 

Teams are absolutely loading up at the position and for good reason…. Would love to see the Bills take this approach. Let’s see tomorrow. 

 

They might or they might go TE or RB and continue to develop some younger WRs they drafted previously.

 

Overall - who knows if th Bills would of picked a WR if someone like Olave or Williams fell, but the run on WRs and the hole at CB lined up perfectly.

 

Beane is not drafting for 1 year - he knows where the holes are and I am sure he also has an idea on who will be FA and in he draft next year.

 

The interesting thing is multiple AFC teams moved young WRs (both named Brown) and therefore weakened their teams more than the Bills drafting a CB.

 

Tennessee spun their wheels - trading a guy to get his replacement- I get the money situation, but how do you think that plays in that Locker Room.

[Bruffalo]

2 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

huh?

I'm dumb. Fixed, thank you.

[Simon]

Just now, mannc said:

Can he return punts?

 

It would be a huge bonus, but no, he never has.

[Warcodered]

 

[BillsVet]

 

22 minutes ago, Bruffalo said:

Beane used the 2020 first round pick to get Diggs, so you're objectively wrong about that. Green Bay hasn't hit really on any WR draft picks, we have with Davis. We've signed decent FA depth historically as well, while Green Bay has certainly had more trouble than this.

 

It sounds like to me that you're having a tantrum instead of thinking about this logically.

 

The trade for Diggs doesn't mean they get a pass on drafting WR for 2 years.  In fact, they've used 1 pick from rounds 1-3 on a WR from 2017-21.  Likely to change tomorrow, Buffalo has used UFA liberally at WR and OL.  Need to draft and develop play-makers on offense.  Davis isn't a lock at this point with his 6 career regular/postseason games with more than 80 yards receiving. 

 

15 minutes ago, BillsEnthusiast said:

Beane really watched Levi running 10 yards behind Tyreek last season and hit the "upgrade speed" button.

 

Wallace being a slower less physical zone CB wasn't the big issue.  Hill catching passes and Mahomes having time to throw was.  

[purple haze]

1 hour ago, drab08 said:

Not a huge fan.  Hope I'm wrong.  Definitely don't like having to move up to get him.

 

Just don't like the analysis I've heard that he doesn't like to tackle.

The analysis I’ve heard is that he’s not great at tackling due to issues with technique; not that he’s not willing to do it.  There’s a difference.  Technique issues are correctable.  You think McDermott is signing off on drafting a DB who doesn’t like to tackle?  For real?

Edited April 29, 2022 by purple haze

[mannc]

1 minute ago, Simon said:

 

It would be a huge bonus, but no, he never has.

I expect at some point this weekend we’ll draft a WR or DB with significant PR experience and ability.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

23 minutes ago, The Dean said:

 

I question the move down for a 4th. But why do you say he "threw it away?  You KNOW 100% there is no team that was looking to draft ahead of the Bills with CB needs?  I'm guessing if teams were making calls, Beane knew it. 

 

So instead of saying "he threw it away", you might instead say "he used it to procure the one guy left on whom they had a first round grade". It may not have been necessary, but you can't know that.

Or you could say he gave away a fourth round pick for a player that is no more likely to be star as the next 5 CBs to be drafted. 

 

At the end of the day, he filled a huge need.  

[Mr. WEO]

5 minutes ago, Warcodered said:

 

 

But has he matriculated on it yet??

[Simon]

1 minute ago, purple haze said:

The analysis I’ve heard is that he’s not great at tackling due to issues with technique; not that he’s not willing to do it. 

 

Yeah, I haven't seen a a single analyst describe him as soft or unwilling.

Just that he's tackling technique has improved but still needs some work.

[Bruffalo]

1 minute ago, BillsVet said:

The trade for Diggs doesn't mean they get a pass on drafting WR for 2 years.  In fact, they've used 1 pick from rounds 1-3 on a WR from 2017-21.  Likely to change tomorrow, Buffalo has used UFA liberally at WR and OL.  Need to draft and develop play-makers on offense.  Davis isn't a lock at this point with his 6 career regular/postseason games with more than 80 yards receiving. 

I mostly agree, I was just arguing with the other poster who said the Bills were doing the same thing to Allen that Green Bay has done historically to Rodgers.  Just pointing out that the Bills have used premium assets to help out Allen.  I'm all for drafting weapons in rounds 2-3, I just don't see how it wouldn't be a big reach to have done that at pick 23, where just about all of the 1st round WR talent was already spoken for.

[HappyDays]

11 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Yea… Allen and the Bills would be unstoppable if he has what Burrows now has around him though. 

 

Right. We should have drafted Ja'Marr Chase tonight. What can't-miss offensive player do you think they should have taken at 25?

[Warcodered]

 

[NewEra]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

Whether you agree with Beane or not, he just said in his interview that Elam was the last player on the Bills' board with a 1st round grade. They did not have a 1st round grade on Booth or Gordon.

That’s fine.  It is what it is.  Bad trade up and trade in my book.  
 

they like traits.  They got traits.  Now teach him to tackle and not be a little *****

[78thealltimegreat]

12 minutes ago, Bruffalo said:

Ah yeah, the great Can Newton.

 

You know they went to a superbowl right? You could do a lot worse than that run of years Carolina had when he was at his peak. That's really not the insult you're trying to make it out to be. Allen has a much better throwing motion too so the window is just going to be open longer. 

 

Full disclosure, I wanted a WR too, but I don't want them to reach for one.  There was no WR left on that board that had a 1st round consensus.  It's just a fact.  The IOL was gone. Going RB is just bad business. CB2 is a logical and good place for them to invest in, and now we have a cost controlled asset opposite White for the next five years.

 

I really don't understand your logic here. Who was on the board that was the obvious pick over Elam, or even CB?

It’s pretty obvious Devin Lloyd should be a Buffalo bill now. Elam was a reach at 23 and a waste of an asset to trade up for him 

[Roundybout]

13 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Yea… Allen and the Bills would be unstoppable if he has what Burrows now has around him though. 

 

I bet my left nut if we took a receiver you'd complain we have no depth at defensive back and "Mahomes is gonna shred us in 13 seconds again"

[Governor]

1 hour ago, Since1981 said:

There must have been some inside ball or intelligence supporting the tiny move up.

Nah. He probably tried to move up a few times and couldn’t so he played it safe so he could come home with a CB. It is what it is.

 

If the player turns out to be great, no one will remember the weird flailing around that occurred.

 

No more trade ups tho.

[Mr. WEO]

6 minutes ago, Bruffalo said:

I'm dumb. Fixed, thank you.

 

Cam Newton won 3 playoffs games in his Carolina career, lost 4.  

 

Can Newton never lost a game

[Norcalbillsfan]

9 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

The roster is stacked.  A 4th rounder was more likely to make the PS than the 53.  And start?  LOL!

Unless the pick is a punter lol. But I agree with you, filled a huge need with a pick that would most likely be a project or special teams ace.

[Simon]

Just now, NewEra said:

Now teach him to tackle and not be a little *****

 

He may need to improve the muscle memory on his technique, but there is no little ***** in this kid.

[Doc]

1 minute ago, NewEra said:

That’s fine.  It is what it is.  Bad trade up and trade in my book.  
 

they like traits.  They got traits.  Now teach him to tackle and not be a little *****

Sure they like traits.  He also allowed the 2nd lowest QB rating the past 3 seasons. 

[CorkScrewHill]

1 hour ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

The cowboys had zero interest in corner we burned a pick for a guy they could have had at 25 anyway just dumb 

It doesn’t matter if Dallas had or didn’t have interest in him .. it matters if anyone did since the 1st round was on fire with trades. The move up to get Josh in 2018 was not about the teams ahead of us but rather the teams that might be tempted to jump us (e.g Arizona)

[NoHuddleKelly12]

I’ll defer to our FO/McD on this one—apparently the 2020 tape on him shows why he got drafted and not the 2021 version playing through injury…per the Cover 1 live chat tonight on YouTube. They weren’t ecstatic but took a wait and see approach given the Bills’ proven ability to mold DB clay.

[What a Tuel]

5 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Or you could say he gave away a fourth round pick for a player that is no more likely to be star as the next 5 CBs to be drafted. 

 

At the end of the day, he filled a huge need.  

 

Not according to Beane.

[Doc]

1 minute ago, Norcalbillsfan said:

Unless the pick is a punter lol. But I agree with you, filled a huge need with a pick that would most likely be a project or special teams ace.

 

Oh no, they gave away Araiza!

[78thealltimegreat]

17 minutes ago, jkeerie said:

Um...think this through.  There is a tiny flaw in your logic.

What the Cowboys took the Tulsa offensive tackle when if they wanted corner could have taken Dax Hill whose every bit as good as Elam 

[Simon]

I predict the biggest issue he is going to have in his first season is that he's going to draw a lot of flags.