Jets host former first-round CB Kaiir Elam

Kaiir Elam is already looking to land on his feet. Days after getting cut by the Dallas Cowboys, the cornerback had a visit with the New York Jets Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston.

With Shavon Revel recently making his NFL debut and Trevon Diggs on the verge of returning from a concussion, Elam was unceremoniously let go by the Cowboys on Saturday. The cornerback was acquired by Dallas back in March and ended up starting seven of his nine appearances with the franchise.

While the veteran wasn’t the sole reason for the Cowboys’ defensive struggles, he undoubtedly contributed to them. Elam allowed 25 completions, 372 yards and three touchdowns this season, with opposing QBs managing a 105.0 passer rating when throwing his way. Pro Football Focus currently has the 24-year-old ranked 60th among 110 qualifying cornerbacks.

The 23rd pick in the 2022 draft, Elam looked like a future piece for the Buffalo Bills, as the Florida product finished his rookie campaign with a pair of interceptions while starting six of his 13 appearances. He was limited to only three games in 2023, although he did come up with a key interception in a playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Elam served mostly as a backup in 2024, and his struggles while filling in for Christian Benford during the playoffs ultimately spelled the end of his Bills tenure.

With Sauce Gardner (and, to a lesser extent, Michael Carter) no longer in the picture, the Jets have turned to a number of cornerbacks opposite Brandon Stephens. If Elam catches on with the organization, he’d likely compete with the likes of Jarvis Brownlee, Isaiah Oliver and Azareye’h Thomas for reps.