Elam now CB4 and playing kickoff coverage in the preseason

[Process]

What's your play here?

 

Hang onto him and hope he develops?

 

Trade him while he still has some value? If he's not playing, his value will only go down the further we get from when he was drafted. 

 

I would say trade him, but we don't have a lot of depth. Who is CB4 then, Austin? If a bad team offered a 3rd, I'd probably take it. 

 

I didn't follow him in college, but him not being a fit for our defense is not a surprise, right? We knew that already going into the draft? That's the frustrating part. 

[CSBill]

Time to trade him. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

juan valdez will pick no hot take before its time

 

[Virgil]

I was going to wait until the game was over to make this exact post. 
 

I really think the Bills should take trade offers for him.  It’s not that he isn’t good. He just doesn’t fit our system.  
 

A team like the Ravens would love to have him and I’m sure there are other DB needy teams. 
 

Ideally, there’s a team out there with good OT or MLB depth that needs a DB, but this isn’t Madden. 
 

For me, if you can get a 2nd rounder, go for it 

Edited August 26, 2023 by Virgil

[Warriorspikes51]

I still don’t understand this. I thought he was quite good at times last year. Had 2 huge ints

[Goin Breakdown]

Trade to a team that plays more man coverage. Seems to be his "strength". 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Just now, Virgil said:

I was going to wait until the game was over to make this exact post. 
 

I really think the Bills should take trade offers for him.  It’s not that he isn’t good. He just doesn’t fit our system.  
 

A team like the Ravens would love to have him m, and I’m sure there are other DB needy teams. 
 

Ideally, there’s a team out there with good OT or MLB depth that needs a DB, but this isn’t Madden. 
 

For me, if you can get a 2nd rounder, go for it 

there are precisely ZERO teams going to trade an OT of any quality for a CB

 

 

[Virgil]

1 minute ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

I still don’t understand this. I thought he was quite good at times last year. Had 2 huge ints

Something is happening in practice to where he’s behind Tre, Benford, and Jackson.  
 

Whatever it is, he’s not worth his contract to this team 

1 minute ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

there are precisely ZERO teams going to trade an OT of any quality for a CB

 

 

Why would you leave out the part of the quote where I indicated the same.  Hence why I said, this isn’t Madden

Edited August 26, 2023 by Virgil

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, Virgil said:

Something is happening in practice to where he’s behind Tre, Benford, and Jackson.  
 

Whatever it is, he’s not worth his contract to this team 

his contract?? He’s on a rookie deal

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Just now, Virgil said:

Hence why I said, this isn’t Madden

then why bother?

 

[Airseven]

I’d like to see a list of young LBs also on the outs.

[MJS]

Eh, it's preseason. And you know there will be injuries. He is a good player and he'll get playing time. If he doesn't start, that's not the end of the world. Getting some more time to develop will help.

[Virgil]

1 minute ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

his contract?? He’s on a rookie deal

1st round pick.  He’s got to be making a couple mil, no?

[sven233]

You hold onto him and work to develop him unless you can trade him for an above average MLB.  If you can get someone serviceable in here at MLB, as much as I want to be patient with Elam because he does have talent, we need to worry about this season first.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

7 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

I still don’t understand this. I thought he was quite good at times last year. Had 2 huge ints

Same here. I want to say this pick was a disagreement between management and coach. Coaches loved Dane Jackson. They aren’t even giving Elam the time of day.

[Dopey]

2 minutes ago, Airseven said:

I’d like to see a list of young LBs also on the outs.

And then?
That’s a helluva plan. Beane better be on the lookout. You’re obviously ready to be our new GM. 

[Process]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Same here. I want to say this pick was a disagreement between management and coach. Coaches loved Dane Jackson. They aren’t even giving Elam the time of day.

I don't know. Mcdermott was literally licking his lips when Elam whipped out the notebook in the predraft interview. 

[Shanahan's Horseshoe]

Ya gotta see what you can get for him at this point but absolutely don’t give him away 

[Billl]

There were times last season where he looked like he had a lot of potential.  The only action I’ve seen this preseason was against the Steelers, and he legitimately looked as bad as any CB I’ve ever seen.   He’s one of the strangest cases I’ve ever seen.  

[Big Blitz]

If someone calls Beane and asks about Elam this should be the response 

 

 

We have CB depth.  Keep it.  I still like his pedigree and skill set - can’t let that Benford is awesome sway us. 
 

[Billl]

2 minutes ago, Process said:

I don't know. Mcdermott was literally licking his lips when Elam whipped out the notebook in the predraft interview. 

That notebook might hold up better against blockers than Elam does.

[RobbRiddick]

I think I've found the problem. Remember when he was drafted and he kept talking about the notebook he kept? 

 

This is it

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jwhit34]

There is about 0% chance they are trading him. First they wouldn't give up on him after 1 season in which he actually played pretty well, as others have pointed out. 

 

There is also the salary cap consideration. He has a dead cap number of over $11 million. The signing bonus hit alone would be a $5.4 million hit this year, I don't exactly how that works in trades but they would have at least the $5.4 million hit of the bonus. The other is guaranteed money I think and I'm not sure how that works.

 

Let's see how things play out. The trade Elam sentiment is the classic "glass is half empty" scenario. How about Dane Jackson is playing well and they may have found a late round gem in Benford and as a result all 3 are starting caliber CB2s. 

 

Nice to have the depth.

[BullBuchanan]

Why would you trade him? His value has to be what, a max of a 4th round pick? You'd be killing $11M of cap space for a 4th or 5th round pick? He's worth more than that as a 4th DB.

[Process]

4 minutes ago, jwhit34 said:

There is about 0% chance they are trading him. First they wouldn't give up on him after 1 season in which he actually played pretty well, as others have pointed out. 

He went from competing for a starting job at the beginning of TC to 4th string CB and playing special teams by the end of it. They clearly don't think he is playing well. 

Edited August 26, 2023 by Process

[Simon Says]

20 minutes ago, Virgil said:

1st round pick.  He’s got to be making a couple mil, no?

1.3 million salary this year than I think 1.7 and 2.3

[BuffaloMatt]

DEPTH. One injury away from starting. Stays put. 

[Mr. Wonderful]

You can never having enough cornerbacks.

Sincerely, 

Dick Jauron

[Virgil]

Just now, Herb Nightly said:

1.3 million salary this year than I think 1.7 and 2.3

 

Wow, that's a lot lower than I thought.  I figured all first rounders were making at least 3 mil per, even if in years 3-5.

[BuffaloBillyG]

Just now, Mr. Wonderful said:

You can never having enough cornerbacks.

Sincerely, 

Dick Jauron

Well, Jauron DID win NFL Coach of the Year Honors. 

[Airseven]

4 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

Why would you trade him? His value has to be what, a max of a 4th round pick? You'd be killing $11M of cap space for a 4th or 5th round pick? He's worth more than that as a 4th DB.

I’d hope the goal is to trade him for another young player in a similar roster predicament to add to a position with less depth, i.e. CB for LB if such a match is out there.

[Process]

Just now, Virgil said:

 

Wow, that's a lot lower than I thought.  I figured all first rounders were making at least 3 mil per, even if in years 3-5.

Almost a $4M cap hit this year. I have no idea how cap works though and if we would actually realize savings if we traded him. 

[QLBillsFan]

14 minutes ago, Process said:

I don't know. Mcdermott was literally licking his lips when Elam whipped out the notebook in the predraft interview. 

Really confusing.. I see no reason to trade him. One injury and he’s CB 3. Assuming he actually is CB4. All I can guess is that he’s reluctant to take coaching ? 

[BillzFreak]

1 minute ago, BuffaloMatt said:

DEPTH. One injury away from starting. Stays put. 

Exactly, I swear how soon people forget how many injuries we had at corner last year. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

The only trade that makes sense is if there’s a team out there willing to trade a young cheap Lb for Elam.

[Alphadawg7]

32 minutes ago, Process said:

What's your play here?

 

Hang onto him and hope he develops?

 

Trade him while he still has some value? If he's not playing, his value will only go down the further we get from when he was drafted. 

 

I would say trade him, but we don't have a lot of depth. Who is CB4 then, Austin? If a bad team offered a 3rd, I'd probably take it. 

 

I didn't follow him in college, but him not being a fit for our defense is not a surprise, right? We knew that already going into the draft? That's the frustrating part. 

Or…it’s possible you’re reading too much into this final preseason game considering they have been giving 3 guys looks at CB2 and that the order they played today may not be an indicator of final depth chart.  It could be, but we don’t really know.  
 

They also could be showcasing one of the other DBs for a potential trade and getting them work.  
 

So before we jump to conclusions, I’d prefer to see how it plays out and what week 1 depth chart looks like.  

[BillsfaninChicago]

The 4 in CB4 is to remind us about the 4th we used to move up and get him.

[Alphadawg7]

9 minutes ago, Process said:

He went from competing for a starting job at the beginning of TC to 4th string CB and playing special teams by the end of it. They clearly don't think he is playing well. 

And how do you know he is CB4?  

[Draconator]

32 minutes ago, Airseven said:

I’d like to see a list of young LBs also on the outs.

I'd like to see you out the TBD door

[BillsSbSoon]

38 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

I still don’t understand this. I thought he was quite good at times last year. Had 2 huge ints

I agree. Some of the penalties that have gone against him have been bs too imo. Admittedly the Steelers game was a bad look but most of the team was bad too. 

Edited August 26, 2023 by BillsSbSoon