National media outlet names the Dallas Cowboys’ surprise player and it’s someone who could make or break the entire season originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
From the moment they traded for him, it’s been clear the Dallas Cowboys have higher expectations from cornerback Kaiir Elam than fans do.Â
A former first-round draft pick that didn’t work out for the Buffalo Bills, Elam came labeled as the typical Cowboys’ “low-risk, high-reward” bet we see every offseason. But chances are the front office always perceived him as a likely starter for Week 1.Â
Elam has been a consistent starter in OTAs and minicamp and was recently named by ESPN’s insider Todd Archer as the surprise player of the Cowboys offseason so far, who noted the veteran corner was graded high by Dallas during the 2022 NFL Draft process:
The Cowboys acquired Elam in a trade from Buffalo after he was not able to solidify himself with the Bills. The Cowboys had him highly rated when he came into the NFL. He started just 12 games in three seasons with two picks, but 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. – Todd Archer
Though Elam struggled in Buffalo as Archer points out, the discourse from the Bills since letting him go has emphasized the fact that the team didn’t use Elam properly. The hope in Dallas is playing him in a different scheme—the right scheme—should unlock the talent of the player they were high on a few years ago.
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Why Kaiir Elam could make or break the season
Unless a drastic change occurs in training camp, you can expect Elam to start in September. With Trevon Diggs expected to be out with injury—and likely for a minimum of four games assuming he’s placed on the injured list to save a roster spot—Elam will be joined by DaRon Bland and someone else (Caelen Carson? Shavon Revel Jr.?) to fill out the lineup.Â
In those first four games of the season, the Cowboys will face multiple high-end quarterbacks. Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams, and Jordan Love are all on the schedule early on. While Russell Wilson hasn’t been the same, he’ll be throwing to Malik Nabers, who combined for 184 receiving yards in two games versus Dallas last year despite inferior QB play.
That is to say, the Cowboys can’t afford to have one of their cornerbacks being torched while Diggs comes back. What’s more, there’s a high likelihood Elam starts even when Diggs comes back. Dallas worked out Bland in the slot over the offseason, which could set the table for an Elam-Diggs-Bland starting lineup.Â
In other words, Elam is shaping up to be more than a depth addition but someone expected to start. Let’s see if it pays off for them.
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This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.