Former Bills first-round pick's renewed confidence leads to Josh Allen INT

Buffalo Bills CB Kaiir Elam continued his strong training camp with an interception during the Blue Red scrimmage.

Bills defensive back Kaiir Elam puts in the extra work with drills after practice on day seven. | Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK

Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam has been a coming-of-age story during OTAs and into training camp.

Showing the ability that convinced the Bills to make the Florida product a first-round draft pick in 2022, Elam, who failed to earn a starting job either of the last two seasons, appears to exude a renewed confidence heading into Year 3.

"He's been through, for sure, let's just say last year alone, that was a challenging and trying year. There's an element of reinstilling that belief and confidence," said eighth-year head coach Sean McDermott on Sunday.

Elam was practically a weekly gameday inactive during the 2023 season, playing snaps in only three regular season contests. Due to injury, he was needed for 52 defensive plays in Buffalo's AFC Wildcard win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The resilient cornerback totaled five tackles and stopped a scoring drive by making an interception in the endzone.

In his third NFL training camp, Elam has made multiple notable plays while seeing first-team reps on a rotational basis.

"I would just say just playing fast and free," said Elam, disclosing the reasons behind his success in an interview with WGR 550 following the Blue Red scrimmage at Highmark Stadium. "Just having a great coach that expects perfection for me every play. Every play [he] is talking to me, making sure I'm staying poised, not getting too high even when I do make plays.”

Elam made a key play in the scrimmage, intercepting a deep Josh Allen pass seemingly intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

“Just reading Josh, just being able to go high point the ball and go take it away. I know coach is going to let me have it about celebrating too early, but I was just happy to be able to help," said Elam.

RELATED: 2022 First-Round Draft Pick looked ready to shed bust label at minicamp

McDermott credited both Elam and new position coach Jamile Addae for the player's emergence.

"He continues to work tirelessly to improve, so credit him for that," said McDermott. "Two, the addition of Jamile and starting with a clean slate."

Defense can make plays too. 😈@kaiirelam5 | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/McNI59ab0y

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 1, 2024

—  Enjoy free coverage of the Bills from Buffalo Bills on SI  —

More Buffalo Bills News:

• The World’s Team?: New study finds Bills are NFL’s most popular franchise worldwide

• Greg Rousseau challenges external narrative surrounding Bills offseason

• 'Bright future' for Bills fifth-round rookie who led NCAA FBS in sacks

• Bills WR Keon Coleman reflects on first experience in front of Highmark Stadium crowd

• NFL reveals Bills-less Top 10 Players list and Josh Allen is better than nine of them