Cowboys cut cornerback who started in 7 games; second starter cut in four days
Ahead of the Dallas Cowboys’ clash with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon, they announced that they have cut cornerback Kaiir Elam after he started in seven games with the team this season. Running back Malik Davis was signed to the 53-man roster in his place after he ran out of practice squad elevations.
Acquired over the offseason in a trade with the Buffalo Bills, Elam was brought in with the expectation of being a starting cornerback until the position group got healthier. However, after a strong training camp, he earned a start in week one despite Trevon Diggs already being healthy.
He would go on to start the first four games of the season before being replaced in the starting lineup in week five. He would earn three more starts before being relegated to special teams duties in the team’s win over the Raiders last Monday. In that win, he had zero defensive snaps and three special teams snaps. Five days later, he was cut.
In the trade on March 12, the Cowboys acquired Elam and a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick being sent to the Bills. A former first-round pick by Buffalo in 2022, Elam finishes his Cowboys tenure with 29 tackles and one pass deflection in 10 games.
The move comes as the Cowboys got rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. back from an ACL injury he suffered in his senior season at East Carolina University. After debuting with 18 snaps against the Raiders, the expectation is that he will continue to work himself into the mix at the position as the season goes on. Diggs is also close to returning from injured reserve, as the hot seat is now placed on rookie Trikweze Bridges, who was inactive for the first time this season against the Raiders.
The release of Elam comes just a few days after the team parted ways with 2022 fifth-round pick linebacker Damone Clark who started in two games earlier this season before also getting his spot taken by a returning injured player (DeMarvion Overshown). Clark was claimed on waivers by the Houston Texans on Thursday.
If Elam clears waivers (4 p.m. ET, Monday), the Cowboys will be on the hook for the remaining $1 million that he is guaranteed on his rookie contract. If he is claimed, their financial ties will be cut.
