Kaiir Elam arrived in Kansas City with a chance to reset everything.
For a former first-round pick who never found his footing in Buffalo, the Chiefs looked like the right kind of landing spot: a one-year deal, a fresh defensive backfield, and a track record under Dave Merritt that has helped shape corners into reliable NFL players. The contract was modest - $1.8 million with $500K guaranteed - but the opportunity was real.
Now, with roster cuts approaching and the Chiefs’ second preseason game on deck, Elam hasn’t done much to seize it.
In Kansas City’s preseason opener against the Rams, he logged just 17 snaps. That left him behind Melvin Smith, who played 21, and level with D’Arco Perkins-McCallister and Zelmar Vedder at 16 apiece. That’s not the kind of spot that helps a player trying to stand out in a crowded competition, especially when the early camp buzz has mostly centered on other defenders.
The challenge for Elam is that the Chiefs’ cornerback room has filled up quickly. Mansoor Delane has the look of the lockdown option, while Nohl Williams appears poised to take a step forward in his second season as a physical presence. L’Jarius Sneed, Kristian Fulton, Jadon Canady, Kader Kohou, and Chris Roland-Wallace all look headed for the active roster too, which leaves Elam fighting for attention alongside Kevin Knowles and the other names in the mix.
That’s the reality of his situation: the pedigree is still there, but the results haven’t followed. Buffalo moved on from him after three seasons.
Dallas waived him after 10 games. Tennessee didn’t bring him back after a late-season tryout.
Kansas City got him on the cheap, and that price tag made sense for a team willing to take one more swing.
Elam is only 25, so another front office will probably see enough upside to keep the door open. But if he can’t make this opportunity count with the Chiefs - and with Merritt’s help in front of him - it’s hard to see much changing.
His next and maybe last real shot comes in Kansas City’s second preseason game against the Buccaneers.
In Other News...
Chiefs Roster Shuffle Already Sent One Defender To A New AFC Team
The Chiefs linebacker depth took another turn this week when the club released Anthony Dunn, a defensive end-linebacker who quickly landed with the New York Jets. Kansas City needed the roster space to make room for Cam Jones, with injuries already thinning the linebacking corps and forcing another adjustment as the team tries to stabilize that part of the defense.
Dunns move gives the Jets a fresh look at a player who was pushed out of a crowded Chiefs roster situation rather than a lack of interest elsewhere. New York brought him in to replace Nate Voorhis with one week left before active roster cuts, a reminder of how quickly the bottom of the roster can change as teams across the league sort through injuries, depth concerns and the final evaluation window. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Long Shot Is Suddenly Forcing A Tough Roster Call
Ethan Hurketts path with the Chiefs has already taken a couple of turns, and now the undrafted rookie free agent has worked his way back into the conversation after an early release and a quick re-signing following a season-ending injury to another player. Joining training camp late did not stop him from getting on the field in preseason games, where he logged a notable share of defensive snaps and earned a favorable look from the coaching staff.
The challenge for Kansas City is deciding how much of that late momentum to bank on. Hurkett still looks like a long shot to crack the 53-man roster, but his performance has made him a real candidate for the practice squad and, possibly, a player other teams could notice if he is exposed. For a team always weighing depth and development at the back end of the roster, that creates a small but meaningful decision to sort through. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Changed The NFL Spotlight In A Way That Raises Questions
Taylor Swifts presence at Chiefs games has done more than add another star to the suites. It has pushed Kansas City and the NFL into a brighter, broader spotlight, drawing more media attention and clearly widening the leagues reach with younger and more casual viewers. For a franchise that already sits at the center of the sports modern conversation, the added attention has become part of the weekly routine.
The bigger question is what the league does with it now. The commercial pull of the Swift effect is obvious, but so is the risk of the conversation drifting away from the players and the game itself. League observers see a chance to turn temporary curiosity into longer-term football interest, even as they acknowledge the bump may not last forever. [Read more 🡒]