Analysis: Drafting Kaiir Elam helps Bills keep up with arms race in AFC By Mark Gaughan News Sports Reporter Apr 28, 2022 Apr 28, 2022 Updated Apr 26, 2026 0 × By Mark Gaughan News Sports Reporter Mark Gaughan talks about the Bills' first-round pick Kaiir Elam. The Bills traded up two spots to pick Elam at No. 23 in the 2022 NFL draft. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The Cincinnati Bengals’ victory in Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game in January was a bucket of cold water on the Buffalo Bills’ defense.kAm%96 q6?82=D 96=5 E96 r9:67D E@ ac A@:?ED 2?5 bfd J2C5D] yFDE 2 H66< 62C=:6C[ E96 q:==D J:6=565 ca A@:?ED 2?5 dda J2C5D E@ !2EC:4< |29@>6D U2>Aj r@]k^AmkAm%96 q:==D’ 5676?D6 C2?<65 }@] ` :? E96 }u{] %96 q6?82=D’ 5676?D6 C2?<65 }@] `e]k^AmkAmp?J@?6 H9@ H2E4965 E96 q6?82=D 362E E96 r9:67D 4@F=5 D66 r:?4:??2E: 925 2 36EE6C A2DD CFD9 E92? qF772=@ 2?5 >@C6 E2=6?E 2E 4@C?6C324< W6G6? 244@F?E:?8 7@C E96 724E E96 q:==D H6C6 >:DD:?8 %C6’s2G:@FD (9:E6 E@ :?;FCJX]k^Am People are also reading… NC cannabis council considers public consumption policy for THC products Davidson County woman awarded $850K in lawsuit against former Mooresville NASCAR driver Autumn Jubilee in Rowan County set for Saturday; Sunday events canceled NC has changed math standards. Here’s what high school students will now take Kannapolis Fire Department hosts Fire Truck Parade, Food Drive, Bloodmobile Trump to begin sending $500 ACA refund checks. Here's where they're going End of an era: NC DMV eliminates stickers, routine paper registration on Oct. 1. Here's why Bill Belichick, UNC football had Notre Dame on upset alert before everything changed Concord’s Barnes claims win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Lake Gaston Are you required to answer immigration questions at NC traffic stops? The law Board OK puts business development grant, tax reinvestment fund to work in Cabarrus Dancing for the Arts returns Nov. 7 with a new lineup of local stars NC family permanently protects 150 acres in Iredell and Alexander counties Concord celebrates 2,125 combined years of service Morganton, Lenoir residents accuse Winston-Salem's Quality Oil of selling contaminated gas kAmv:G6 E96 q:==D’ 3C2:? ECFDE 4C65:E] qC2?5@? q62?6 2?5 $62? |4s6C>@EE 5:5?’E <:5 E96>D6=G6D 23@FE E96:C 5676?D6] q6EH66? >:5\y2?F2CJ 2?5 >:5\u63CF2CJ E96C6 H2D 2? 9@?6DE 244@F?E:?8 :? E96 4@2496D’ @77:46D 2E ~?6 q:==D sC:G6] %96J @G6C92F=65 E96 5676?D:G6 =:?6 :? 7C66 286?4J :? 2 3:8 H2J[ 9625=:?65 3J E96 '@? |:==6C D:8?:?8]k^AmkAm}@H E96J’G6 25565 2 4@C?6C324< H:E9 6=:E6 A9JD:42= E2=6?E :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^3:==D^3:==D\EC256\FA\EH@\DA@ED\5C27E\7=@C:52\4@C?6C324<\<2::C\6=2>\H:E9\abC5\@G6C2==\A:4<^2CE:4=60caf5gfbc\4fed\``64\3c3b\574a6336`4c3]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmz2::C t=2> H:E9 E96 abE9 A:4<k^2m :? E96 7:CDE C@F?5 @7 %9FCD52J ?:89E’D }u{ 5C27E]k^Am kAm%96 q:==D 92G6 @?6 6=:E6 4@C?6C324< :? (9:E6[ 3FE :E’D 2 DEC6E49 E@ E9:?< 96 H:== 36 C625J E@ A=2J 2 7F== 82>6 :? (66< ` :? $6AE6>36C] (9@ <?@HD[ 3FE :E H@F=5?’E 36 2 D9@4< :7 96 D2H @?=J =:>:E65 5FEJ E96 7:CDE D:I H66<D @7 E96 D62D@?]k^Am kAm%2C@? y@9?D@? :D @?6 @7 E96 36EE6C D=@E 4@C?6C324<D :? E96 }u{] %@A `_ 7@C DFC6[ 6DA64:2==J 8:G6? E96 H2J 9:D A9JD:42= D<:== D6E DF:ED H92E E96 q:==D’ 5676?D6 ?665D]k^AmkAm~? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 7:6=5[ 9@H6G6C[ E96 q:==D 92G6 366? DF44665:?8 H:E9 2 >@56DE=J E2=6?E65 @G6C249:6G6C] |2<6 ?@ >:DE2<6[ {6G: (2==246 :D 2 8@@5 7@@E32== A=2J6C] w6 DE2CE65 da 82>6D @G6C E96 A2DE b½ D62D@?D[ 2?5 E96 q:==D H@? 2 =@E @7 82>6D H:E9 9:>]k^Am kAm~3G:@FD=J[ E96 q:==D 4@F=5 92G6 FA8C2565 7C@> (2==246 2E 2?J A@:?E @G6C E96 A2DE 7@FC J62CD] %96J 5:5?’E] %92E’D 3@E9 2 4C65:E E@ (2==246 2?5 2 DE2E6>6?E @7 A9:=@D@A9J] |4s6C>@EE 2?5 5676?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C {6D=:6 uC2K:6C 92G6 ?@E G:6H65 }@] a 4@C?6C 2D 2 E@A AC:@C:EJ 7C@> 2? 6=:E6 2E9=6E:4:D> A6CDA64E:G6]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^4_766aa4\4fdb\``64\g3de\gf2fh4g44c2`Qmu:G6 E9:?8D E@ <?@H 23@FE rq z2::C t=2>[ q:==DV 7:CDE\C@F?5 A:4<k^2mk^AmkAm}@E 2?J>@C6] x7 J@F’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 86E @G6C E96 !2EC:4< |29@>6D 9FC5=6 2?5 H:? E96 $FA6C q@H=[ E96 E2=6?E 32C :D 9:89]k^Am kAm{@@< 2E E96 @776?D:G6 =2?5D42A6 :? E96 pur] $:I @7 E96 E@A ?:?6 "qD :? E96 }u{[ @C D6G6? @7 E96 E@A ``[ 2C6 :? E96 pur] p== 3FE @?6 :? E96 pur 2C6 J@F?8[ :?4=F5:?8i |29@>6D WaeX[ y@D9 p==6? WadX[ y@6 qFCC@H WadX[ yFDE:? w6C36CE WabX[ s6D92F? (2ED@? WaeX[ #FDD6== (:=D@? WbbX 2?5 {2>2C y24<D@? WadX] %96 q:==D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ 86E A2DE @?6[ EH@ @C E9C66 @7 E96> 6G6CJ J62C :? E96 A=2J@77D 7@C E96 7@C6D6623=6 7FEFC6]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmtG6? :? E96 pur t2DE[ E96 A2DD:?8 E2=6?E :D :>AC6DD:G6] |:2>: 92D EH@ @7 E96 72DE6DE C646:G6CD :? E96 }u{ :? %JC66< w:==[ 2E c]ah D64@?5D :? E96 c_\J2C5 52D9[ 2?5 y2J=6? (255=6 2E c]bf] %96 }6H *@C< y6ED 92G6 2 c]bd DA665DE6C :? t=:;29 |@@C6 2?5 ;FDE 25565 v2CC6EE (:=D@?[ 2E c]bg]k^Am kAm%96 q:==D ?66565 E@ 255 >@C6 DA665 @? 5676?D6 E@ >2E49 E96 DA665 E96J’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ DE@A]k^AmkAmt=2> :D e\7@@E\`½ 2?5 CF?D E96 c_ :? c]bh D64@?5D] %96 e\7@@E (2==246 C2? c]eb 4@>:?8 @FE @7 p=232>2]k^AmkAm(2==246 2?5 s2?6 y24<D@? 2C6 H6== DF:E65 E@ A=2J K@?6 4@G6C286] %96J’C6 D>2CE[ E96J 92G6 8@@5 :?DE:?4ED[ E96J C624E H6== E@ E96 A=2J :? 7C@?E @7 E96>] (2==246 C2C6=J 86ED 32:E65 @? 5@F3=6 >@G6D 2?5 :D 2D 2DD:8?>6?E D@F?5 2D E96J 4@>6]k^Am kAmqFE t=2> 92D 36EE6C 4=@D:?8 DA665] w6’D A9JD:42= 62C=J :? E96 5@H?] w6’D 2 8@@5 7:E E@ A=2J r@G6C b K@?6] w6 42? AC6DD 2E E96 =:?6 @7 D4C:>>286] w6’D 2C8F23=J E96 D64@?5 36DE 4@C?6C AC6DD:?8 2E E96 =:?6 @7 D4C:>>286 :? E96 5C27E[ 369:?5 @?=J s6C6< $E:?8=6J yC][ H9@ H6?E E9:C5 @G6C2==] t=2> 8:G6D uC2K:6C >@C6 4@G6C286 @AE:@?D]k^AmkAm|2J36 (9:E6 5@6D?’E ?665 E@ 7@==@H 2? 6=:E6 C646:G6C 2D >F49] |2J36 E96J 42? >:I :E FA >@C6[ H96C6 (9:E6 :D A=2J:?8 K@?6 @?6 @?6 D:56 2?5 t=2> :D A=2J:?8 >2?[ :?DE625 @7 E96 @E96C H2J 2C@F?5] uC2K:6C 925 E@ 36 4@8?:K2?E @7 AC@E64E:?8 (2==246 2 3:E 282:?DE E@F896C >2E49FAD]k^Am kAm%96 q:==D 2C6?’E 2 3:8 3=:EK:?8 5676?D6] x7 J@F’C6 A=2J:?8 42E49\FA[ H9:49 :D :?6G:E23=6 2E D@>6 A@:?E[ J@F’C6 7@C465 E@ 3=:EK E@ 4C62E6 AC6DDFC6 2?5 =62G6 J@FC 4@C?6CD @? 2? :D=2?5] p >@C6 6=:E6 2E9=6E6 8:G6D E96 q:==D 2 36EE6C 492?46 :? E9@D6 D:EF2E:@?D]k^Am kAm%9:D :D?’E E@ DF886DE E96 q:==D’ 5676?D6 92D ?@ H@C< E@ 5@]k^AmkAmu@C @?6[ E96 C@@<:6 DFC6=J :D 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 >@C6 >:DE2<6D E92? E96 6G6C\C6=:23=6 (2==246]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^5a37437e\4b5_\``64\g337\7bc753ab``6_Qm*@FC 8F:56 E@ E96 qF772=@ q:==D 2?5 E96 }u{ 5C27Ek^2mk^Am kAmqFE E9:D >@G6 8:G6D E96 q:==D D@>6 A6246 @7 >:?5]k^AmkAmx>28:?6 :7 E96 D4965F=6 4@>6D @FE 2?5 E96 q:==D 2C6 724:?8 E9C66 6=:E6 "qD :? E96 7:CDE 7@FC H66<D] (:E9 ?@ (9:E6nk^Am kAm%96 @E96C ?:46 E9:?8 23@FE E96 A:4< :D 4@C?6C324< :D 2 3:8 >@?6J A@D:E:@?] %96C6 2C6 ac A=2J6CD >2<:?8 S`_ >:==:@? 2 J62C 2E 4@C?6C324<] qJ 4@>A2C:D@?[ 6:89E CF??:?8 324<D 2C6 2G6C28:?8 S`_ >:==:@? 2 J62C] $@ J@F’C6 D2G:?8 >@?6J 282:?DE D@>6 @7 E96 4@>A6E:E:@? :7 J@FC }@] a 4@C?6C :D @? 2 C@@<:6 562= 2?5 96’D 8@@5]k^Am kAmxE’D 2? @776?D:G6 2C>D C246 :? E96 pur[ 2?5 E96C6’D ?@ DF3DE:EFE6 7@C E2=6?E 2?5 DA665] %96 q:==D 25565 D@>6 H:E9 t=2>]k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Five things to know about CB Kaiir Elam, Bills' first-round pick Here are five things to know about Kaiir Elam. Watch now: Five things to know about Buffalo Bills first-round pick Kaiir Elam The Buffalo Bills selected cornerback Kaiir Elam with the No. 23 pick in the NFL draft. The Bills wanted to make sure they got Elam: They trad… NFL Draft Day 2 Scouting Report: A look at the Bills' many attractive options tonight The Bills own pick No. 57 in the second round and No. 89 in the third round on Day 2, which begins at 7 p.m. Brandon Beane: Bills never called Giants about potential trade up “We didn’t talk to a team above 20,” the Bills GM said. “We didn’t even call or anything like that.” Watch now: Bills draft pick Kaiir Elam gets ovation at Sabres game, with help from Josh Allen Bills first-round draft pick Kaiir Elam got his first exposure to Buffalo fans as he got an ovation Friday night at the Sabres' regular season… Analysis: Winners and losers for the Bills after the 2022 NFL Draft Here’s an analysis of winners and losers at One Bills Drive after the dust settled from three days of drafting by the Buffalo Bills. Bills first-round draft pick Kaiir Elam improves on 'The Blueprint,' follows father, uncle into NFL Kaiir Elam, who stands 6-foot-1 1/2, weighs 191 pounds, ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine and was widely projected as… Your guide to the Buffalo Bills and the NFL draft Here's a look at our coverage of the NFL draft, which continues through Saturday, April 30. Bills fans react to selection of Florida defensive back Kaiir Elam Bills fans quickly took to social media to reach to the selection of Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam with the No. 23 pick in the NFL Draft on Th… Watch now: Mark Gaughan on Bills' first-round pick Kaiir Elam Mark Gaughan talks about the Bills' first-round pick Kaiir Elam. The Bills traded up two spots to pick Elam at No. 23 in the 2022 NFL draft. Bills trade up two spots, draft Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam with 23rd overall pick A 6-foot-1½, 191-pounder, the 20-year-old Elam finished his Florida career with six interceptions in 35 games. He also had 79 tackles, 26 pass… Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Post-Week 5 College Football Power Rankings: Georgia and Alabama Take Over the Top 2 NFL Overreactions Week 4: First place New York Giants + Chiefs still undefeated NFL Overreactions Week 4: First place New York Giants + Chiefs still undefeated US LBM Coaches Poll: Top 10 Shakeup as Florida tumbles out of top 10 US LBM Coaches Poll: Top 10 Shakeup as Florida tumbles out of top 10 Should we expect a lopsided Dodgers-Braves series in the playoffs? Should we expect a lopsided Dodgers-Braves series in the playoffs?
Five things to know about CB Kaiir Elam, Bills' first-round pick Here are five things to know about Kaiir Elam.
Watch now: Five things to know about Buffalo Bills first-round pick Kaiir Elam The Buffalo Bills selected cornerback Kaiir Elam with the No. 23 pick in the NFL draft. The Bills wanted to make sure they got Elam: They trad…
NFL Draft Day 2 Scouting Report: A look at the Bills' many attractive options tonight The Bills own pick No. 57 in the second round and No. 89 in the third round on Day 2, which begins at 7 p.m.
Brandon Beane: Bills never called Giants about potential trade up “We didn’t talk to a team above 20,” the Bills GM said. “We didn’t even call or anything like that.”
Watch now: Bills draft pick Kaiir Elam gets ovation at Sabres game, with help from Josh Allen Bills first-round draft pick Kaiir Elam got his first exposure to Buffalo fans as he got an ovation Friday night at the Sabres' regular season…
Analysis: Winners and losers for the Bills after the 2022 NFL Draft Here’s an analysis of winners and losers at One Bills Drive after the dust settled from three days of drafting by the Buffalo Bills.
Bills first-round draft pick Kaiir Elam improves on 'The Blueprint,' follows father, uncle into NFL Kaiir Elam, who stands 6-foot-1 1/2, weighs 191 pounds, ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine and was widely projected as…
Your guide to the Buffalo Bills and the NFL draft Here's a look at our coverage of the NFL draft, which continues through Saturday, April 30.
Bills fans react to selection of Florida defensive back Kaiir Elam Bills fans quickly took to social media to reach to the selection of Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam with the No. 23 pick in the NFL Draft on Th…
Watch now: Mark Gaughan on Bills' first-round pick Kaiir Elam Mark Gaughan talks about the Bills' first-round pick Kaiir Elam. The Bills traded up two spots to pick Elam at No. 23 in the 2022 NFL draft.
Bills trade up two spots, draft Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam with 23rd overall pick A 6-foot-1½, 191-pounder, the 20-year-old Elam finished his Florida career with six interceptions in 35 games. He also had 79 tackles, 26 pass…
