Kaiir Elam addresses how his style of play fits with Buffalo Bills
Former Florida Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam was selected with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. But even after becoming a first round selection, Elam isn’t looking for anything to be handed to him.
Elam knows that with the Bills, he will see a lot of targets as teams try to avoid throwing at star corner Tre’Davious White. But Elam is open to that possibility, and his mindset has allowed him to remain confident in his abilities as he begins this new journey in his career.
“I’m just looking to earn everything I’m given,” Elam said. “So being on that island, I’m gonna feel confident. But at the end of the day, I have to go prove that I can have an immediate impact in this league. That’s why I’m saying I’m taking the steps right now to strive to get better, chase self-improvement on a daily basis and ultimately help this team win and long-term goal to win the Super Bowl.
“First and foremost I say mindset. If you believe you’re gonna have a bad day, then it’s gonna happen. If you believe you have the ability to stick with this guy and ultimately take the ball away every single rep, then you can do it. So mindset. Then I would say trusting in your technique and then having the intangibles to go out there and do it and be able to run with the guys in this league and stop on a dime and things like that. I think first, like I said, is mindset then technique then intangibles at the end of the day.”
Elam knows he has work left to do with the Bills
In three years at Florida, Elam totaled 78 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 20 passes defended and one fumble recovery. He knows that he is in line for a big role with the Bills right away, and he is ready to help the team fight towards winning a Super Bowl.
“For it to actually come true, I think I believe it was meant to be,” Elam said. “But everything like I said, I expect to earn it. It’s no promises, no I don’t think just because I was drafted in the first round I should be entitled to anything. I think I have to earn everything that’s given to me, and I’m sure I will. I’m super-duper confident that I can help this team achieve the ultimate goal and win the games we’re supposed to and win the games we’re not supposed to. So I’m looking forward to it.”
When it comes to playing press or off the line, Elam has confidence in his abilities at both. And even with his confidence, Elam is still striving to improve his all-around game as he kicks off his rookie campaign.
“No matter what, I still want to get better at both,” said Elam. “I feel comfortable pressing, and my back pedal I think I’m pretty good at that as well. But I think I can always improve the little things and my fundamentals each and every day. Because once you don’t work it, you lose it. So I’m comfortable at both. But at Florida I was required to play a lot of press man. So some people can say I probably look better at press than I do off. But I’m comfortable playing both and I’m still eager to learn as much as I can to get better at both. So that’s how I would scout myself.”