Heading into the 2024 season, the Chicago Bears boast a strong secondary, yet general manager Ryan Poles is known for his continual quest to enhance the team. This might lead him to consider acquiring a former Buffalo Bills first-round pick rumored to be available via trade.
During the 2024 offseason, the Bears bolstered their secondary by extending All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s contract for four years at $76 million, adding ball hawk Kevin Byard III as a replacement for Eddie Jackson, and signing veteran safety Jonathan Owens to a two-year deal. The secondary is robust, further strengthened by recent second-round picks Jaquan Brisker, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson, who bring youthful energy.
Despite this, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggests that the Bears might have an opportunity to further enhance their secondary if the Bills are looking to trade 2022 first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam. The third-year player has struggled to secure a consistent role with the Bills, but a change of scenery might allow him to leverage his length, speed, and physicality more effectively and shake off the “first-round bust” label.
Knox posits that the Bears could be a “logical” destination for Elam, noting that defensive coordinator Eric Washington was a senior defensive assistant in Buffalo during Elam’s draft year, which could facilitate a smoother transition.
Kaiir Elam Approaching 1st-Round Bust Territory
Kaiir Elam still has two seasons remaining on his four-year, $13.6 million rookie contract with Buffalo. However, the Bills might consider trading him before the NFL trade deadline in November if he struggles early in the 2024 season or if their other cornerbacks continue to impress.
Elam has yet to meet first-round expectations during his first two NFL seasons. The Bills moved up two spots in the 2022 draft to select him at No. 23 overall, hoping he would bring a much-needed playmaker to their defense after failing to find one in free agency. Initially, it seemed like Elam could fulfill that role while they awaited the return of All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White from his 2022 ACL injury.
In his rookie year, Elam started six of the first eight games, recording 34 tackles, three pass deflections, and two interceptions. However, an ankle injury restricted him to just 21 defensive snaps over the next five games. Upon returning in Week 15, his performance faltered as he fell behind other corners on the depth chart.
Elam’s 2023 season was disappointing, with only 14 tackles in three games and two starts. He missed the remaining 14 games due to injuries and being a healthy scratch. By the end of his second season, his future with the Bills appeared uncertain, leading to trade rumors.
On a positive note, Elam showed improvement in his third NFL training camp and was among the Bills’ top performers in the 2024 offseason. Nevertheless, the Bills may not be willing to wait if he struggles at the start of the year, potentially reinforcing concerns about his development.
It’s reasonable to question why the Bears would consider trading for a former first-round cornerback who has struggled to secure a role with his original team. With solid depth at the position, including their three starters and 2023 fifth-round pick Terell Smith, the Bears typically pursue reclamation projects only when there’s a clear positional need.
However, the potential cost might be what attracts the Bears to Elam. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bills had trade interest in Elam before the 2023 deadline. While they chose not to trade him then, they might be more willing if he continues to ride the bench in the first half of the 2024 season. In such a case, the Bills would likely lack leverage to demand a significant return.
Buffalo would probably receive better compensation than what Chicago got for trading wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins last season—a deal involving a pick swap where the Bears gave up Claypool and a seventh-round pick for a sixth-rounder. However, if Elam underperforms early, a similar pick-swap arrangement could be feasible.
In this scenario, the Bears might offer a 2024 fifth-round pick in exchange for Elam and a sixth-round pick from Buffalo. While this would be a low return for the Bills considering their investment in Elam as a top-25 pick two years ago, it could still be better than holding on to him if his value continues to decline.
The Bears would need to be confident in their ability to develop Elam into a reliable NFL cornerback. If defensive coordinator Eric Washington believes in his potential, pursuing this trade could be a logical move given the favorable logistics.
