Elam Selected by Buffalo Bills in First Round of 2022 NFL Draft

Kaiir Elam becomes the Gators’ 54th first-round draft pick since 1967, the second-most among the SEC and fifth in the NCAA.

LAS VEGAS – Former Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round with the 23rd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Last season’s AFC East champions, Buffalo traded up to the 23rd pick with the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for the 25th overall pick and 4th round pick this year.

Elam becomes the Gators’ 54th first-round draft pick since 1967, which ranks second-most among the SEC and fifth in the NCAA. The pick also marks the third straight year with a first-round pick out of Florida and back-to-back corners going in the first round.

A three-year letter winner, Elam played in 35 career games with 26 starts. He was a Coaches All-SEC First Team and AP All-SEC selection along with a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist in 2020. He totaled 79 tackles with 26 pass breakups and six interceptions. A member of the Coaches All-Freshman team in 2019, he has three pass breakups vs. No. 1 Alabama this past season and only allowed two catches in seven targets against the Tide.

What they are saying:

“There’s a lot to like about Kaiir Elam. He’s 6-foot-1, he’s 191 pounds. He can flat-out cover guys. He’s extremely athletic, has great ball skills, can run, likes to play press coverage and get his hands on you. He’s good in zone coverage as well at watching the quarterback’s eyes trying to beat them to throws. This is a great team for a Buffalo Bills team that really has a complete roster… this can be the piece that puts Buffalo over the top.”
-Desmond Howard on the ABC/ESPN broadcast

Gators DBs Drafted in the First Round Since 1967 (by pick)

Year

Rnd

Pick

Overall

Team

Player

Pos

2010

Cleveland

Joe Haden

2020