Jets host former first round DB with intriguing upside on visit

The New York Jets brought in a notable name for a workout on Tuesday, hosting former Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam on a visit. Elam was a first-round pick of the Bills in the 2022 NFL Draft, but his NFL career to date has been highly disappointing.

He's struggled mightily over the last few seasons, falling out of favor in Buffalo before a short, equally disappointing stint in Dallas in 2025. But despite his poor play, he carries the exact physical profile and stylistic traits the Jets covet under defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

At 6-foot-2 and 191 pounds, Elam was billed as a long, physical press-man corner coming out of Florida, which is the very archetype the Jets spent all offseason targeting.

And with Sauce Gardner traded, the Jets’ outside cornerback depth has quietly become rather thin. Their recent moves have made it clear what type of defensive back they want on the boundary, and Elam fits that mold better than most unsigned players. The Jets could be looking to add an intriguing upside flier at a position that could use some extra depth.

Jets could take a flier on Kaiir Elam as much-needed CB depth

Elam has fallen well short of expectations in the NFL, but the traits that made him a first-round prospect still exist. He's a long, physical corner who was drafted for his press-man ability.

That skill set aligns perfectly with what the Jets want under Wilks, whose defense plays the sixth-most man coverage in the NFL through 12 weeks. Elam’s technique, consistency, and instincts have been major issues throughout his career, but the physical tools remain the draw, and that’s exactly what has kept him on the NFL radar.

The Jets have made their cornerback identity abundantly clear. Their biggest non–Justin Fields signing was Brandon Stephens, a physical press-man specialist. They spent a third-round pick on Azareye’h Thomas, another long, strong boundary corner who fits the same mold despite lacking elite deep speed.

They traded for Jarvis Brownlee, a scrappy, ultra-physical nickel corner. And, in the most revealing move of all, they traded away Gardner, whose skill set leaned much more toward zone coverage and finesse. Wilks wants length, strength, and man-coverage traits, which is exactly what Elam offers.

The Jets could also use a little more outside cornerback depth. Behind Stephens and Thomas, the Jets have almost no true outside corner depth. Qwan’tez Stiggers is the only real boundary backup, and when Thomas missed time with a concussion, Stiggers had to start.

When he briefly got banged up mid-game, the Jets were forced to stick Ja’Sir Taylor — a much smaller nickel/special teams player — on the outside.

Their practice squad isn’t built for boundary insurance, either. Jordan Clark and Nik Needham are both more natural slot players. Tre Brown is the lone outside cornerback on their practice squad, and even he's listed at just 5-foot-10, 186 pounds.

That’s where Elam makes sense. Even as a practice-squad signing, he would immediately become the Jets’ most physically gifted backup boundary corner. He’s not a safe bet, but he could be a worthwhile gamble, with the traits, length, and scheme fit at a position where the Jets need bodies.

Elam has struggled throughout his NFL career, but perhaps the Jets could look to take a flier on him as a reclamation project in a scheme that better suits his strengths.

*Update: Kaiir Elam has signed with the Tennessee Titans, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport*