Latest news with #KaiirElam
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Insiders Agree On Camp's No. 1 'Surprise Starter'
Cowboys Insiders Agree On Camp's No. 1 'Surprise Starter' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys underwent a great deal of change this offseason. After hiring a completely new coaching staff, the Cowboys front office worked numerous free agency deals and four trades to tighten up gaps in the roster following a disappointing 7-10 season. Advertisement One of those trades was to acquire cornerback Kaiir Elam, who the Buffalo Bills gave up in exchange for low-value draft picks. Elam joins a new team for the first time in his career, but the Cowboys, in a way, already feel like home. Kaiir's father Abram Elam earned a roster spot with the Cowboys in 2006 after going undrafted. He didn't get much action as a rookie and bounced around the league for a few seasons before returning to Dallas in 2011. Abram, a safety, started all 16 games in the secondary that season, as Kaiir - 10 years old at the time - watched his dad make an impact for "America's Team" with 68 tackles. Advertisement "Kind of just a surreal moment," Kaiir said once he heard he was joining his father's old team. "A full-circle moment." And that circle now figures to put the younger Elam in the starting lineup here, per two of the most veteran Cowboys beat writers. ESPN recently went team-by-team to pinpoint the biggest offseason workout "surprise.'' For the Cowboys, that guy is Elam. Wrote Todd Archer: "He flashed on numerous occasions in the OTAs and minicamp. He had multiple interceptions and dropped two more. He also showed the ability to run with receivers. Maybe things change when the pads come on in training camp, but given the uncertainty the Cowboys have at cornerback with Trevon Diggs and third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. working back from knee surgeries, they need Elam to be a factor." Advertisement Our Mike Fisher goes a step beyond that, writing, "While Kaiir struggled finding a solid role with Buffalo after being a first-round pick who didn't expectations as a young player, that pedigree is undeniable. And so was his work in minicamp. "I think they brought him here to be a starter. And so far, he's lived up to that.'' Elam clearly thinks he got a raw deal in Buffalo, claiming, "I was always put in the backseat. ... I don't need a red carpet or anything like that. I just want to be able to earn it with a fair opportunity. ... "I'm confident because I'm coming into a staff that truly really believes in me,'' he said. "I don't think they would've made the move if they didn't want to see the best for me." Advertisement Related: Cowboys And Micah Parsons Dealing With One Final Contract Holdup, Per Report Related: Cowboys' Eberflus Explains How Dak Prescott Encouraged Return to Dallas This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Elam Following in Dad's Footsteps with Cowboys
Elam Following in Dad's Footsteps with Cowboys originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Cowboys saw a lot of change this offseason. After hiring a completely new coaching staff, the Cowboys front office worked numerous free agency deals and four trades to sure up gaps in the roster following a disappointing 7-10 season. Advertisement One of those trades was to acquire cornerback Kaiir Elam, who the Buffalo Bills gave up in exchange for draft picks. Elam joins a new team for the first time in his career, but the Cowboys, in a way, already feel like home. Kaiir's father Abram Elam earned a roster spot with the Cowboys in 2006 after going undrafted. He didn't get much action as a rookie and bounced around the league for a few seasons before returning to Dallas in 2011. Abram, a safety, started all 16 games in the secondary that season, as Kaiir - 10 years old at the time - watched his dad make an impact for "America's Team" with 68 tackles. Advertisement "Kind of just a surreal moment," Kaiir said once he heard he was joining his father's old team. "A full-circle moment." Of course, Jerry Jones' family has been around since Abram played, but there is another familiar face in the building. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus rejoins the Cowboys this offseason after being on the staff from 2011-2017, where he coached Abram for a year. Eberflus also coached him during their time together with the Cleveland Browns prior to that. Eberflus now has the opportunity to give Kaiir a tremendous opportunity to make an impact this season amidst the Cowboys' litany of injuries in the cornerback room. Entering his fourth season, Kaiir is still very young and could greatly benefit from more experience. Advertisement Kaiir struggled finding a solid role with Buffalo after being a first-round pick that didn't meet his expectations as a young player. "Coming into Buffalo, I was a kid," Kaiir said. "I just wanted to improve and learn and really show off my talents, but I was always put in the backseat. "I just need the opportunity, the full opportunity, to go take the ball away and show my physicality and be the playmaker that I know I am and that I once was in college." Now with a fresh start, he is ready to prove his elite pre-draft pedigree with people he trusts. "I feel like everything starts with an opportunity, so if I'm able to come in here and compete and show what I can do, that's all I really would want. I don't need a red carpet or anything like that. I just want to be able to earn it with a fair opportunity. That's what I'm going to strive every day to do. Advertisement "I'm confident because I'm coming into a staff that truly really believes in me. I don't think they would've made the move if they didn't want to see the best for me." His father echoes that same sentiment as his son follows in his footsteps. "He's got people [in Dallas] he can trust," Abram said. Related: Cowboys' Eberflus Explains How Dak Prescott Encouraged Return to Dallas Related: Cowboys Depth Chart Taking Shape In Major Update Ahead of Training Camp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Cowboys minicamp: Jake Ferguson, George Pickens shine on Day 2; ping pong duels intensify
FRISCO, Texas — With the threat of inclement weather looming, the Dallas Cowboys held their Wednesday afternoon mandatory minicamp practice on the field inside The Star. As players went through their regular stretches and warmups, Where The Hood At by DMX — a song released a year before running back Jaydon Blue was born — started blaring through the speakers. The song choice instantly put Dak Prescott, among many other players, in a different groove as they got ready for the final practice of minicamp. Advertisement The Cowboys will take the field Thursday for a walk-through but Wednesday's session was the last practice before the team takes the field for training camp in Oxnard, Calif., next month. Let's examine some things that stood out from the two practices this week. Nearly everything observed on the field this time of year should be taken with a grain of salt. Contact is non-existent, which not only makes it impossible to gauge the players in the trenches on both lines, but also makes it tricky in other areas. For example, George Pickens had a great catch up the field on a pass from Prescott on Wednesday, with cornerback DaRon Bland in tight coverage. The play would count as a plus for Pickens but isn't necessarily a negative for Bland, who was stapled to Pickens and would have probably made a more aggressive play on the ball in different circumstances. Speaking of cornerbacks, former first-round pick Kaiir Elam, who the Cowboys acquired this offseason in a trade with the Buffalo Bills, popped out on both days. It was a little bit of good and bad. He had a nice pass breakup Tuesday on the field outside and again indoors Wednesday. On Wednesday, Elam was in coverage against CeeDee Lamb and Prescott tried to go deep to his primary receiver in the end zone. Elam made a nice play to beat Lamb to the ball but dropped the interception. It was similar to the previous day when Elam made a nice play on the ball but dropped the pass that hit him in the hands. The tempo of these minicamp practices favors the offense, and on Tuesday, Pickens was the standout. It's easy to see why there's so much excitement around the Cowboys adding him to the mix. Not only does he have reliable hands, but his route running is crisp, he stretches the field and works the underneath on plays the Cowboys anticipate turning into big yards-after-catch opportunities. 'When I play receiver, it's always about what the (defensive back) thinks you're doing,' Pickens said. 'I try to keep him on his toes at all times.' WRs are movin' 💨#DallasCowboys | @Invisalign — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) June 10, 2025 Head coach Brian Schottenheimer is doing more from a scheme standpoint to hunt mismatches, rather than just reply on the individual talent of his playmakers. Pickens and Lamb frequently line up next to each other, sometimes getting off the line of scrimmage together and other times with one of them going in motion to the other side before the snap. Either way, it puts additional stress on the defense and makes things easier on Prescott. Advertisement The offensive standout Wednesday was Jake Ferguson. The fourth-year tight end had a great touchdown catch down the seam from Prescott during the team session. Prescott placed the ball perfectly, just behind Ferguson and away from linebacker Jack Sanborn, who had tight coverage. The middle of the field has become a money area for the connection between Prescott and Ferguson. 'That's been going back since I got here,' Ferguson said. 'I love the seam ball, he loves throwing it. We just happened to have that play called today but we've been repping that daily with routes on air and stuff like that. That's been a connection that's been building continuously. You guys just saw a piece of it today.' Ferguson, who is going into the final year of his rookie contract, is looking for a rebound year after a down season in 2024. Last season, Ferguson dealt with a knee injury, a concussion and a midseason injury to his QB1. All together, it resulted in a touchdown-less season for Ferguson. He brought that up unprompted Wednesday. 'That was something I came into this offseason really working on,' Ferguson said. 'Just really tried to dial in on that and make sure I was lights out. … That one stung but at the same time, I was asked to do different stuff, whether it be chipping or pass (protection) or something like that, and that's OK. I'm trying to do whatever it takes to have this team win and to go get our ultimate goal. So, whatever they need me to do, it's kind of just a personal thing to probably get over that hump. At the end of the day, yes, I do want to score touchdowns.' One of the most intriguing players this week — as well as the past month with OTAs — has been backup quarterback Joe Milton. He took reps Wednesday ahead of Will Grier and flashed a lot of the advertised potential. To cap off his first drive, Milton, rolling to his left, hit Ryan Flournoy for a touchdown. He'll be interesting to watch as each level amps up from training camp practices to preseason games and potentially the regular season, if circumstances require him to play. Advertisement In many ways, Milton is the complete opposite of what the Cowboys had at backup last year in Cooper Rush. That's not a slight to Milton or Rush — they're just different. Milton has all the physical tools and arm strength one would like, whereas Rush processed the game and read defenses well. Milton is only in his second NFL season and his third offensive system in the past three years. A learning curve is to be expected. Rush was in his eighth year with the vast majority of it in Dallas. Once it all comes together for Milton and he racks up more experience, there could be something there for the Cowboys. There isn't much to read into yet when it comes to the performances of the offensive and defensive lines. However, unlike last year, there's no ambiguity with who the top group includes. Every time the No. 1 offense goes on the field (from left to right), Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker and Terence Steele lead the charge. There will be more to say about this unit when the pads come on next month. Micah Parsons was involved in a variety of ways today, helmet and no helmet, going through some drills in individual. Parsons didn't participate in any team activities, team or 7-on-7. Parsons was around the whole time. — Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) June 11, 2025 On Tuesday, star pass rusher Micah Parsons was present for minicamp but didn't participate in on-field activities. In speaking to the media, Parsons said he was dealing with some back tightness stemming from a workout he had with Trevon Diggs. Of course, Parsons is also under the spotlight as he waits for the Cowboys to give him a monster extension that would make him one of the richest non-quarterbacks in NFL history. On Wednesday, Parsons joined the team on the field inside The Star during warmups. He was in his jersey but didn't have on a helmet. That's also how he was when individual drills began. However, Parsons soon put on his helmet and went through some individual drills, taking competitive reps against his fellow pass rushers. Parsons didn't participate in any of the team activities later but remained on the field. At one point during the team session, Parsons was on the sideline tossing the ball around with Diggs, who is still rehabbing from his injury and was not a participant at all this week. By now, it's well documented that the Cowboys have a ping pong table in the locker room. The most intense competition, at least when the media is allowed in, occurred Wednesday when Parsons played against rookie defensive tackle Jay Toia. It was a frustrating start for Parsons, who went down early against Toia, primarily because he couldn't make contact with Toia's returns. For what it's worth, Toia played while holding the ping pong paddle in an unconventional way, with his entire hand gripping the round part of the paddle. After Parsons dug himself into a deep deficit, Diggs came next to him to try and hype him up. It seemed to do the trick. Parsons mounted a huge comeback and dispatched Toia, much to DeMarvion Overshown's dismay. The match between Parsons and Toia resulted in an extremely loud locker room, with players and media standing on both sides to watch it unfold. Parsons also later beat Lamb. Juanyeh Thomas is thought to be one of the better ping pong players on the team. Earlier in the offseason, Thomas took on the praise of his ping pong skills while also sharing that he would only concede his skills to punter Bryan Anger. Anger, who also is the reigning back-to-back champion of the team's Home Run Derby and completed two passes during Wednesday's practice on fake punts, seems to have one of the more diverse skill sets on the team. (Photo of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb: Chris Jones / Imagn Images)
Fox Sports
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Cowboys CB Kaiir Elam: 'The energy here is something I've never been a part of'
Former Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam was one of a handful of players whom the Dallas Cowboys added in trades this offseason (wide receiver George Pickens and quarterback Joe Milton were among the team's other acquisitions), and the 2022 first-round draft pick feels "blessed" to be in Dallas. "I feel like the energy here [in Dallas] is something I've never been a part of," Elam said, according to the Cowboys' team website. "I love the enthusiasm, and also I would just say the energy from the coaching staff, they actually make you feel like they care, and that's something that's very exciting." Dallas acquired Elam in March, sending Buffalo the No. 170 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a 2026 seventh-rounder for the cornerback and a 2025 sixth-rounder. Elam had bounced in and out of Buffalo's lineup over his three years with the franchise, partially due to an ankle injury and occasionally due to performance. Last season, Elam totaled two passes defended, one fumble recovery amid 26 combined tackles in 13 regular-season games. That said, Elam ranked 18th among cornerbacks in pass-rush grade (76.6), 35th in run-defense grade (75.6), 47th in overall grade (70.2) and 69th in coverage grade (67.0), according to Pro Football Focus. He also had two interceptions in his 2022 rookie campaign. As for the adjustment to playing for Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Elam said that it has been "a pretty smooth transition." "All aspects of the game, just playing the game before the game is even played. Being able to eliminate routes and also expect what's coming so you don't have to play with your full athleticism, you can play with your mind first," Elam said about what he has picked up on mentally since joining the Cowboys. Eberflus is in his first season as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator after being the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2022-24; Dallas moved on from head coach Mike McCarthy after a 7-10 season in favor of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who hired Eberflus to be his defensive coordinator. Elam joins a Cowboys cornerback room that includes two-time Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, who had nine interceptions and five pick-sixes in 2023, among others. Their defense surrendered 218.1 passing yards per game last season, which was 17th in the NFL. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Dallas Cowboys Buffalo Bills Kaiir Elam recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Make Trade Then Major Contract Decision on New Starter
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have concluded their major talent acquisition periods of the offseason. Multiple additions from the draft, free agency and through trade are set to compete for positioning on the depth chart starting in the coming weeks. On the subject of trades, the Cowboys usually draw unnecessary headlines or make confounding decisions with those moves. Dallas had one that flew under the radar, bringing in Kaiir Elam from the Buffalo Bills. Advertisement Elam, the son of former Cowboys' safety Abram Elam, hopes to replenish a secondary that has some questions heading into 2025. The Cowboys lost defensive glue guy Jourdan Lewis to free agency and the injury situation around Trevon Diggs has spiraled into a matter frustrating for both the player and his team. The three-year pro last intercepted a pass in 2022, having allowed a passer rating of over 100.0 in his limited action the past two seasons. This makes for a classic Cowboys' attempt at reviving a young player. But Dallas has taken a stance this week that will make him earn it. The Cowboys will not be picking up the fifth-year option from his rookie contract. ... meaning the former Bills first-round pick will miss out on the opportunity to pocket about $12.7 million for playing in 2026. Advertisement Instead, Elam might be a starter this year ... and a free agent a year from now. Based on his recent track record, that decision unfortunately makes sense from the franchise perspective. There is simply no reason for the Cowboys to commit to Elam at this point. With Lewis gone and Diggs' availability uncertain, Elam will have the opportunity to make an impression in the Cowboys' secondary. . For Elam, his fourth-year campaign will be all about translating that work ethic into results on the field. Related: Cowboys Blue Stakes Claim To Home-Run Role with Dak Related: Eagles Just Drafted Micah Parsons 2.0
