The Unexpected Breakout Star of Training Camp for the Cowboys Thus Far
The Dallas Cowboys training camp has begun in Oxnard, California, with major expectations. For the first time in roughly two years, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are able to get proper work done together in the offseason. Micah Parsons is still awaiting his humongous contract that will make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. While the Cowboys’ stars are making the headlines in the NFL media, a former first-round pick who has been subjected to scrutiny has begun to make his name in camp. Kaiir Elam, a former cornerback for the Bills, is making the most of his camp opportunities to potentially start this season.
The Cowboys acquired Elam earlier this offseason in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-round pick in 2026. It was challenging for Elam to find his rhythm in Buffalo due to injuries and being placed on injured reserve, along with experiencing some struggles on the field. At various points during the 2023 season, even when Elam was fit, he was still a healthy scratch for several games. Despite the high expectations the Bills had for him after he was drafted from the University of Florida, he struggled to find his rhythm in Buffalo.
Now, during his first training camp with the Cowboys, he is finally showcasing the first-round talent that many anticipated he possessed. The injuries to Trevon Diggs and Shavon Revel have given him the chance to run first-team reps, and in these reps, he already has two interceptions of Prescott. For the first interception, Prescott did not even see him, and after the play, he would go up to Elam, giving him the credit while asking what coverage and defense they were in. The second interception saw Elam effectively run the route for Jalen Tolbert, beating him to the spot and securing his second pick of training camp. His strong performance during camp significantly increases his chances of earning a starting role for the upcoming season. Elam's addition to the Cowboys exemplifies their typical strategy of pursuing players with low risk and high reward potential. Based on his performance so far, it seems that Elam could indeed deliver the significant payoff they are anticipating.
