Chiefs Sign Former First-Round CB Kaiir Elam

Veteran cornerback joins Kansas City secondary after stints with Bills, Cowboys, and Titans.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:49pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, abstract painting depicting a football defensive play broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy, red, and white, conceptually representing the Chiefs' efforts to rebuild their secondary.The Chiefs' signing of former first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam aims to shore up their secondary through a cubist, geometric visual representation of defensive strategy.Kansas City Today

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed veteran cornerback Kaiir Elam, the former first-round pick who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2022. Elam has played for the Bills, Dallas Cowboys, and Tennessee Titans over the past three seasons, tallying 114 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 3 fumble recoveries in 43 games.

Why it matters

The Chiefs are looking to bolster their secondary after losing both starting cornerbacks this offseason, trading Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams and seeing Jaylen Watson sign with the Rams in free agency. Elam's addition provides veteran experience and playmaking ability to a Chiefs defense looking to reload.

The details

Elam, the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has spent the last three seasons with the Bills, Cowboys, and Titans. He has 114 total tackles, 2 interceptions, and 3 fumble recoveries in 43 career games, including 19 starts. The terms of Elam's deal with the Chiefs were not disclosed.

  • Elam was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 1st round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
  • Elam played for the Bills from 2022-2024 before stints with the Cowboys and Titans in 2025.
  • Elam signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on April 2, 2026.

The players

Kaiir Elam

A veteran cornerback who was a first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2022 and has since played for the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans.

Trent McDuffie

A starting cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs who was traded to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason.

Jaylen Watson

A starting cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs who signed with the Los Angeles Rams in free agency this offseason.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're excited to add a veteran cornerback like Kaiir to our secondary. His playmaking ability and experience will be a great asset as we look to reload our defense.”

— Brett Veach, General Manager, Kansas City Chiefs

What’s next

The Chiefs will look to integrate Elam into their defensive backfield as they prepare for the 2026 NFL season.

The takeaway

The Chiefs are making a savvy move to add a talented veteran cornerback in Kaiir Elam to help shore up their secondary after losing key starters this offseason. Elam's experience and playmaking ability should provide a boost to the Kansas City defense as they aim to remain one of the top teams in the AFC.