With the 23rd overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected Florida Gators CB Kaiir Elam. What will Elam’s rookie contract look like, and where does he project into the Bills’ current depth chart?
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Kaiir Elam drafted 23rd overall by the Buffalo Bills
The Bills were always expected to target cornerback and they did exactly that. Buffalo was not willing to wait and see if Elam fell to them at 25, so they moved up two spots to get their guy.
Elam’s projected rookie contract
Because Elam was the 23rd overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, this is what his projected rookie contract should look like. Contract numbers are from Over the Cap.
- Total Value: $15.4 million
- Signing Bonus: $8.4 million
- 2022 Base Salary: $705,000
- 2022 Cap Number: $2.8 million
Elam’s strengths and areas to improve
Here is a snapshot of what the Bills will be getting with the selection of Elam. For further information, check out Elam’s full scouting report.
Strengths
- Engages receivers at the line of scrimmage, smoothly transitions off the line, and stays on the opponent’s hip out of breaks
- Quickly picks up and stays with coverage assignments, plays physical football, and shows an explosive closing burst to the action
- Keeps his head on a swivel, shows good recognition, and effectively communicates with teammates in the secondary
Areas for improvement
- Had just 1 interception last season and 2 the prior year
- At times hesitant to react to receivers’ moves off the snap
- Can stand a bit more coordinated with his footwork, especially in off-man
How does Elam project in the Bills’ depth chart?
The Bills’ biggest need was a cornerback to align opposite Tre’Davious White, and they get exactly that with Elam. Elam’s a full-sized cornerback with natural ball skills and some of the best tape of any cornerback in the class. His downfall — if you can call being a late-first-round pick a downfall — was some inconsistent tape downfield at times.
He would get a bit too physical with receivers at the top of routes. But if he cleans up some of the extracurricular activity, Elam could be one of the best CB2s in the league. Buffalo got to wait and still drafted a great player at a massive position of need, improving a roster that was already imposing.
When do the Bills pick next in the 2022 NFL Draft?
As of the time they drafted Elam, the Bills have these remaining picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
- Round 2 (Pick 57)
- Round 3 (Pick 89)
- Round 4 (Pick 130)
- Round 5 (Pick 168)
- Round 6 (Pick 185 from Panthers)
- Round 6 (Pick 203)
- Round 7 (Pick 231 from Falcons)
For the full results and upcoming draft order, check out our pick-by-pick tracker for the 2022 NFL Draft.
