Former Cowboys DB Kaiir Elam Joins Kansas City Chiefs

First-round pick signs with Chiefs after stints with Bills and Cowboys

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:38pm

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The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to terms with former Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kaiir Elam, his agent Jon Perzley of SPORTSTARS NYC confirmed. Elam, a former first-round draft pick, is joining the Chiefs after the team lost both of its starting cornerbacks in the offseason.

Why it matters

The Chiefs' secondary was a weakness last season, so adding a talented young cornerback like Elam could help shore up their defensive backfield. Elam was a highly touted prospect coming out of college and will look to revive his career in Kansas City.

The details

Elam was the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, selected by the Buffalo Bills. He spent two seasons in Buffalo before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys last year. Now the 24-year-old defensive back is heading to the Chiefs, who are looking to rebuild their cornerback group after losing starters Charvarius Ward and L'Jarius Sneed in free agency.

  • Elam was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 1st round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
  • He spent two seasons with the Bills before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.
  • Elam has now agreed to terms with the Kansas City Chiefs in April 2026.

The players

Kaiir Elam

A 24-year-old cornerback who was a first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2022 and has since played for the Dallas Cowboys.

Jon Perzley

Elam's agent and a representative at the SPORTSTARS NYC agency.

Kansas City Chiefs

An NFL team that has agreed to sign Elam after losing both of their starting cornerbacks in the offseason.

Buffalo Bills

The NFL team that originally drafted Elam in the 1st round in 2022.

Dallas Cowboys

The NFL team that traded for Elam in 2024 after he spent two seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

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What they’re saying

“The #Chiefs have agreed to terms with former #Bills and #Cowboys CB Kaiir Elam, his agent Jon Perzley of @SPORTSTARSNYC tells @RapSheet and me.”

— Jon Perzley, Elam's agent

What’s next

Elam will now join the Kansas City Chiefs and compete for a starting role in their secondary. The team will look to him to help improve their pass defense after losing key starters in the offseason.

The takeaway

The Chiefs are taking a chance on former first-round pick Kaiir Elam, hoping he can revive his career in Kansas City and solidify their defensive backfield. Elam has shown promise but struggled with consistency in his first few NFL seasons, so this move represents an opportunity for both the player and the team to find success.