RD 1, Pick 23: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida

[34-78-83]

42 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

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.

Sure doesn't look soft on his game replays either so that's good. They can get his form fixed. Beyond that he's got all the athletic traits and obviously had a successful visit with the team.

[Alphadawg7]

7 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

As far as the defense goes, no matter who they add you are still going to see the opposing offenses/elite QBs have their way against defenses in the playoffs…. It’s why I’m in favor of stacking the offense and keeping Allen at his peak over stacking defense….. 

This is ridiculous and fact less.  
 

Ask KC about that.  Bucs D crushed them in the SB.  Bengals D bounced them a week after they dropped 42 on us this year.  
 

Ask the high scoring Cowboys and MVP led Packers about getting bounced by Niners Defense this year.
 

Ask the vaunted Rams offense that scored 3 points in the SB. 
 

Ask Denver, the highest scoring offense in NFL history about getting smashed by Seattles D in the SB 43-8

 

Ask the Patriots former highest scoring offense in the NFL about losing to the Giants D while only scoring 19 points.  
 

I mean I can keep going about this, and I’ve told you this before, but you keep saying this same fact less and baseless claim over and over again.  
 

Wasn’t true then, still not true now.  

[Doc]

Just now, Adam727 said:

I don't like that this felt like a bit of a reach for a "need" pick, and not BPA.  You can't convince me Elam was BPA over Devon Lloyd, Linderbaum, & Jermaine Johnson.

 

I don't understand the need for a trade up.

 

But I'm not going to question Beane/McD when it comes to DBs, and if they were willing to trade up for him, this was clearly the player they wanted.  I'm excited we have a CB opposite White with good size, and the biggest hole on our team has been addressed. 

 

Not the player I was hoping we would get but I'm looking forward to seeing what Beane/McD can do with him.    

 

Maybe Beane can convince you.  Specifically when he said that Elam was the last player left on their board with a 1st round grade.

[MAJBobby]

The Bills turned Tre White who has lesser traits into a top end CB. Wait until you see what they do with a guy that has elite traits and athletic profile. 
 

don’t be surprised if in a couple years Elam is the CB1 and Tre is CB1B. Two top end boundary CBs in a passing league. With a top end Nickel as well. 

[What a Tuel]

5 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

This is such a terrible take.  
 

Except you have literally no idea if that is true at all.  You 100% just made that up.  You’ve decided in your mind they preferred McDuffie when you literally have no idea which CB they preferred.  
 

In fact the CB they were linked a lot more to was Booth who is still available.
 

I don’t know why people just make things up to sell an agenda.  

 

Not only that but is it just me or was McDuffie the only CB since Gardner was taken at #4 overall?

 

So wtf are they talking about "last choice of CB on our board"? 

 

The poster seems to just be angling towards riling fans up.

[LABILLBACKER]

Let's hope the McD braintrust can take his 6-2 frame and 4.39 speed and mold him into a superior version of Levi.  I wanted McDuffie and never thought Jermaine would fall to us. Now Let's go offense tomorrow. 

[NewEra]

2 hours ago, BuffaloBills1998 said:

Dallas wanted him and they were originally above us

Says who?  Not saying this sarcastically, but is there any real proof? 

[MAJBobby]

40 minutes ago, purple haze said:

Yep.  And for those who are more worried about picks than players, tomorrow will likely bring more heartburn.  I see a trade up coming in round 2.  Hall or Moore is my guess.

It is was another round like say 5th they wouldn’t care. I bet most are all butt hurt because the 4th likely costs the chance for a Punter. 

[BuffaloBob]

4 minutes ago, BobbyC81 said:

I don’t understand the whole thing.  McD always says his CBs need to tackle and of the top CBs, Elam had a specific negative by Lance Zierlien of “weak run support”.  Booth, who was still available, was noted for great run support and tackling.  They could’ve just stayed at 25 and taken Booth.

Or maybe, just maybe, they feel like then can coach up the guy who they feel was the best fit and had the best upside.  Maybe they felt that since they have a great track record of coaching up guys drafted in the late rounds or undrafted, maybe they somehow feel that they can coach up his tackling.  Call me crazy.

Edited April 29, 2022 by BuffaloBob

[Alphadawg7]

4 minutes ago, Governor said:

We likely had 4 CB’s on our board and traded up to secure the 4th ranked one. I don’t think anyone could say he was BPA. 
 

Beane’s job was to come home with a CB. He did that.  You’re throwing around phrases like “we got our guy” and that’s just silly.

What team do you scout for?  
 

Cuz you seem to know where Elam was graded, so let me know who you scout grades for.  
 

Thanks I’ll wait.

[Doc]

Just now, MAJBobby said:

It is was another round like say 5th they wouldn’t care. I bet most are all butt hurt because the 4th likely costs the chance for a Punter. 

 

There will be some decent punters available in the 5th.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

1 hour ago, Kingston Bills Fan said:

Trading up anytime is ok except to jump a team that has no need for the position you want why just throw the pick away? No reason to do it whatsoever

 

Obviously there was information out that someone was taking Elam before us . You think they just threw away a fourth for the Hell of it ?? You are seriously mistaken.  This is just like when we traded up for Dawson Knox, it seemed like he would be there but it was clear other teams were after him before we could pick him.

 

 

[Governor]

7 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Maybe Beane can convince you.  Specifically when he said that Elam was the last player left on their board with a 1st round grade.

I thinks it’s possible that he was the last player left out of the 2 or 3 positions of “need” that we were willing to draft in the 1st.

7 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Maybe Beane can convince you.  Specifically when he said that Elam was the last player left on their board with a 1st round grade.

 

Edited April 29, 2022 by Governor

[Buffalo Barbarian]

8 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

The Bills turned Tre White who has lesser traits into a top end CB. Wait until you see what they do with a guy that has elite traits and athletic profile. 
 

don’t be surprised if in a couple years Elam is the CB1 and Tre is CB1B. Two top end boundary CBs in a passing league. With a top end Nickel as well. 

 

Would be awesome if we somehow come away with Andrew Booth in the second.

 

 

[MAJBobby]

33 minutes ago, HerdMentality said:

I like the pick.

 

Interesting tho that Beane says he was the only 1st round rated pick left on the board when it’s pick #23…? Aren’t there 32 picks?

Did they only rate 20 players as 1st round talents? And based on what year’s class? 2015?

You grade players. There was 21 first round grades on My Board. So sounds like Bills were probably a bit lower than me. 
 

so essentially my board 22 on should have been trading out or they technically are “reaching” based on my board. 
 

Elam was a 1st round grade for me as well. But so wasn’t Booth with a medical flag though. 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

1 hour ago, HurlyBurly51 said:

so many experts here did🤣

 

I know @GunnerBill did, definitely want your take on Booth sliding,  Gunny.

 

 

 

[John from Riverside]

7 minutes ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

 

Obviously there was information out that someone was taking Elam before us . You think they just threw away a fourth for the Hell of it ?? You are seriously mistaken.  This is just like when we traded up for Dawson Knox, it seemed like he would be there but it was clear other teams were after him before we could pick him.

 

 

I am not into conspiracy stuff that is not proven.....but my gut tells me it was Dallas

[Doc]

Just now, Governor said:

I thinks it’s possible that he was the last player left out of the 2 or 3 positions of “need” that we were willing to draft in the 1st.

 

Beane never specified "at a position of need."  And the only other positions of need was arguably RB and a 1st round RB is a bad investment, while Hall fell out of the 1st round entirely.

[turftoe]

2 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

WGAS

I don't. It was for those who thought a fourth was too much. 

[BADOLBILZ]

35 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Absolutely not to Pickens. Major character concerns and coming off an injury year.

 

Watson's hands and small school competition concerns me. The speed is tantalizing. But he'll be facing off against much much better CBs than he's seen up to this point. I don't like receivers that aren't natural pass catchers and it's only going to get harder for him.

 

Nah I'm good taking their one remaining player with a 1st round grade. Von Miller and Kaiir Elam immediately solve the two biggest problems the Bills had in the playoffs last year. Offensive depth will still be there.

 

 

The biggest problem the Bills had in the playoffs was playing on the road..........they are 0-4 on the road in the playoffs under McDermott and 3-0 at home.

 

And they were on the road at no fault of their defense.........it was as a result of their season-long struggles on the OL and a lack of YAC talent during the regular season.

 

They had the #1 defense in the NFL and got beaten on the road in the only playoff game in NFL history where two teams that had scored 40 the week before met up.

 

It was a unique situation.

 

Whether they've done enough on offense to improve their regular season performance on offense is up for debate.........knowing full well that Josh Allen isn't going to be running 10-15 times per game in September/October/November like he did down the stretch when they got desperate last season.    

 

I agree that pass rush was a huge need and Von Miller can tangibly make a difference.   Mahomes was just LETHAL in that game scrambling and buying time.

 

Can Kaiir Elam do anything about what happened in the Chiefs game?   Probably not.   He'd have been in the same spots in "13 seconds".    And no he isn't catching Tyreek Hill in a foot race.

 

 The lack of pass rush made it impossible for anyone to do their job........much as it had the year before when All Pro Tre White looked totally overmatched in the AFCCG.

 

 

Edited April 29, 2022 by BADOLBILZ

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Just now, John from Riverside said:

I am not into conspiracy stuff that is not proven.....but my gut tells me it was Dallas

 

Ive heard similar.

 

also Not a conspiracy if its true 

 

 

[Doc Brown]

12 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

The Bills turned Tre White who has lesser traits into a top end CB. Wait until you see what they do with a guy that has elite traits and athletic profile. 
 

don’t be surprised if in a couple years Elam is the CB1 and Tre is CB1B. Two top end boundary CBs in a passing league. With a top end Nickel as well. 

I also wonder if they have it in mind to possibly move Tre White to safety eventually if Elam turns into an elite CB.  We'll see how he comes back from the ACL tear.

[NewEra]

26 minutes ago, Governor said:

Well, we got the last Option at CB on our board after McDuffie was snagged away from us. No one can say it was the guy “we wanted.” He was the guy “we needed”’ since the others were gone. We made the pick based strictly on need as opposed to BPA. 

 

There’s really no reason to make excuses about any of it. KC sneakily clowned us with the help of NE. It happens. We’re the hunted now and didn’t see it coming.

 

We’ll have the last laugh.

Yeah, we were hoping that we would draft the 3rd good short armed corner in the last 34+ years.

 

We had a first rd grade on him.  That’s all that mattered.  If they had him as a 2nd rd pick (like I did) and traded up for him, it would be a bad move.  But they got their traits.  Now go to work and implement him quickly  we need him this year 

[BillsFanForever19]

Kaiir Elam was NOT a reach.

 

Cole Strange, THAT was a reach.

[John from Riverside]

1 minute ago, Doc Brown said:

I also wonder if they have it in mind to possibly move Tre White to safety eventually if Elam turns into an elite CB.  We'll see how he comes back from the ACL tear.

Praying for a full recovery.....the thought of White, Elam, Jackson, Johnson creating a now fly zone is happily dancing in my imagination

[MAJBobby]

19 minutes ago, BobbyC81 said:

I don’t understand the whole thing.  McD always says his CBs need to tackle and of the top CBs, Elam had a specific negative by Lance Zierlien of “weak run support”.  Booth, who was still available, was noted for great run support and tackling.  They could’ve just stayed at 25 and taken Booth.

Tackling Technique is Elams issue. Not the will to support against the run. 
 

technique can be fixed. Guess who else had those same negatives???  Tre White. Go read his scouting reports. 

[Governor]

2 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Beane never specified "at a position of need."  And the only other positions of need was arguably RB and a 1st round RB is a bad investment, while Hall fell out of the 1st round entirely.

I’m glad we didn’t trade up 2 spots for a RB. We would’ve been laughed out of the building. 
 

I think safety, LB, WR are still needs.

 

What was the ranking of the top safety compared to the CB we settled on? I bet it was pretty tempting. I didn’t get a chance to look yet.

[Buffalo716]

19 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

The Bills turned Tre White who has lesser traits into a top end CB. Wait until you see what they do with a guy that has elite traits and athletic profile. 
 

don’t be surprised if in a couple years Elam is the CB1 and Tre is CB1B. Two top end boundary CBs in a passing league. With a top end Nickel as well. 

Elam is definitely physically superior but I don't think he's as good in all facets of coverage as Tre was coming out ...Tre played all coverage techniques at a high degree

 

If Tre had his height and physical gifts he would have went top five 

 

He definitely has a very high ceiling learning from Tre and our coaches

Edited April 29, 2022 by Buffalo716

[MAJBobby]

Just now, Buffalo716 said:

Elam is definitely physically superior but I don't think he's as good in all facets of coverage as Tre was coming out 

 

If Tre had his height and physical gifts he would have went top five 

 

He definitely has a very high ceiling learning from Tre and our coaches

And they BOTH had the weak in run support tag. 

[Doc]

1 minute ago, Governor said:

I’m glad we didn’t trade up 2 spots for a RB. We would’ve been laughed out of the building. 
 

I think safety, LB, WR are still needs.

 

What was the ranking of the top safety compared to the CB we settled on? I bet it was pretty tempting. I didn’t get a chance to look yet.

 

The top S left was Hill.  Many had knocked him down because of bad interviews. 

[Zerovoltz]

FYI.  Veach says they felt they had to get ahead of the Bills.

 

https://twitter.com/pgsween/status/1519889179634716672?s=21&t=_R-WCljBWcL5Shu1-DSRjA

[MAJBobby]

Full-time starter for better part of four years and one of the premier mirror-and-match cornerbacks in the game. Has the feet, athleticism and instincts for prolonged coverage responsibilities and his twitch will always have him near the throw. Best suited for all forms of man coverage. Should compete as special teams performer. Lacks run-support physicality to be an every-down corner, but he's talented enough to challenge for slot duties right away.  
 

Weaknesses

Finesse cornerback with relatively slender frame

Physicality and play strength a concern from slot

Big-bodied slot targets will post him up in space and drive him off the line in run game

Tackles when necessary, but doesn't seek out contact

Less technique-oriented and more grabby from slot

Finished career with just six interceptions despite extensive playing time

Early anchor from off coverage caused struggles opening hips when receivers would stem and go

Recovery-quick but not recovery-fast

Texas Tech speedster Jakeem Grant gave him all kinds of vertical work in 2015 Texas Bowl. - Zierlein on Tre White Draft scouting report. 
 

Zierlein on Elam 

Elam is the next up in a long line of talented Florida cornerbacks, but he failed to play his best football in his final collegiate season. He is patient and strong to mirror and impede releases but inconsistent staying connected to the early stages of the route. He plays with good awareness in zone and has the twitch and length to make plays on the throw when squatting in space. He was beat on deep patterns against Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia, which might have led to excessive grabbing and an overall lack of trust in his technique on the 2021 tape. He plays big at the catch point but smaller in run support. Elam has early CB3 and eventual CB2 value as a press and zone corner.
 

Weaknesses

Loses his leverage unnecessarily.

Allows a little too much clearance early in the route.

Needs better open-and-sprint timing when squatting underneath.

Vertical specialists can overtake and stack him.

Inconsistent digesting route combinations.

Too much panic and grab in his 2021 tape.

Can improve his eye balance between the man and the ball.

Doesn't play to his size in run support duties.

Inconsistent coming to balance as open-field tackler.

 

 

11 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

Praying for a full recovery.....the thought of White, Elam, Jackson, Johnson creating a now fly zone is happily dancing in my imagination

The thing that got me was first time I have heard Beane say “Expects white to be ready by start of season”. When talking Elam. First time I think I heard that this offseason from the Bills. 

[Turk71]

I like it 

I have a good feeling they got the right guy. 

[CorkScrewHill]

2 hours ago, Governor said:

The Chiefs stole our guy. We definitely weren’t anticipating that.

I am thinking this is unlikely to be true as the Bills have tried to bring in for Top 30 visits the people they are actually considering. Sauce and Stingley may have been higher on their board but since they were unlikely to get them it might not have made sense to bring them in. However, McDuffie was in the range and yet they elected to not bring him in. I suspect he was not a candidate for their first round pick. Similarity if Booth was removed from their list .. why did they bring him in for a top 30 visit if he was already blacklisted due to health issues

[Alphadawg7]

35 minutes ago, Governor said:

I thinks it’s possible that he was the last player left out of the 2 or 3 positions of “need” that we were willing to draft in the 1st.

 

You sure think a lot of things you literally just made up in your head

Edited April 29, 2022 by Alphadawg7

[Doc Brown]

17 minutes ago, Zerovoltz said:

FYI.  Veach says they felt they had to get ahead of the Bills.

 

https://twitter.com/pgsween/status/1519889179634716672?s=21&t=_R-WCljBWcL5Shu1-DSRjA

I can't see the Bills taking him with his arm length in this system.  Teams like the Chiefs weren't blind to the fact we were highly likely to draft a CB though which is pry why Beane felt moving up was necessary for Elam.  

[purple haze]

20 minutes ago, Zerovoltz said:

FYI.  Veach says they felt they had to get ahead of the Bills.

 

https://twitter.com/pgsween/status/1519889179634716672?s=21&t=_R-WCljBWcL5Shu1-DSRjA

He was right, but who he thought the Bills were targeting might have been off.   That said, McDuffie is a good football player and definitely a process type of player.  I wouldn’t have been surprised if the Bills grabbed him.

[John from Riverside]

I’m of the belief that many of these corners are gonna end up being good out of this draft that doesn’t mean that Elam was the wrong pic

[SCBills]

27 minutes ago, Zerovoltz said:

FYI.  Veach says they felt they had to get ahead of the Bills.

 

https://twitter.com/pgsween/status/1519889179634716672?s=21&t=_R-WCljBWcL5Shu1-DSRjA

Based on Beane’s comments regarding what we needed to add to the secondary, I’d be surprised if McDuffie was on our list.
 

That said, I do think Beane got the memo that teams may want to get ahead of the Bills for a CB after the Chiefs traded up.  
 

Hence our trade up for Elam. 

[Rochesterfan]

29 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

Full-time starter for better part of four years and one of the premier mirror-and-match cornerbacks in the game. Has the feet, athleticism and instincts for prolonged coverage responsibilities and his twitch will always have him near the throw. Best suited for all forms of man coverage. Should compete as special teams performer. Lacks run-support physicality to be an every-down corner, but he's talented enough to challenge for slot duties right away.  
 

Weaknesses

Finesse cornerback with relatively slender frame

Physicality and play strength a concern from slot

Big-bodied slot targets will post him up in space and drive him off the line in run game

Tackles when necessary, but doesn't seek out contact

Less technique-oriented and more grabby from slot

Finished career with just six interceptions despite extensive playing time

Early anchor from off coverage caused struggles opening hips when receivers would stem and go

Recovery-quick but not recovery-fast

Texas Tech speedster Jakeem Grant gave him all kinds of vertical work in 2015 Texas Bowl. - Zierlein on Tre White Draft scouting report. 
 

Zierlein on Elam 

Elam is the next up in a long line of talented Florida cornerbacks, but he failed to play his best football in his final collegiate season. He is patient and strong to mirror and impede releases but inconsistent staying connected to the early stages of the route. He plays with good awareness in zone and has the twitch and length to make plays on the throw when squatting in space. He was beat on deep patterns against Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia, which might have led to excessive grabbing and an overall lack of trust in his technique on the 2021 tape. He plays big at the catch point but smaller in run support. Elam has early CB3 and eventual CB2 value as a press and zone corner.
 

Weaknesses

Loses his leverage unnecessarily.

Allows a little too much clearance early in the route.

Needs better open-and-sprint timing when squatting underneath.

Vertical specialists can overtake and stack him.

Inconsistent digesting route combinations.

Too much panic and grab in his 2021 tape.

Can improve his eye balance between the man and the ball.

Doesn't play to his size in run support duties.

Inconsistent coming to balance as open-field tackler.

 

 

The thing that got me was first time I have heard Beane say “Expects white to be ready by start of season”. When talking Elam. First time I think I heard that this offseason from the Bills. 

 

Nice to hear from the Bills, but Sal has said it several times.  Everything he had heard was White was ahead of schedule and they were expecting him to sit out TC, but be ready Week 1 or Week 2.

 

Barring a setback - They said the Bills were eyeing Week 1 with some limited snaps and then letting him work back to health.

 

I think this pick helps limit any rush and let’s Tre’ have the time they need.