Chiefs Add Cover Corner in Late Free-Agent Signing

Former first-round selection will challenge Kristian Fulton on outside.

Jul 22, 2025; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo walks down the hill to the practice fields during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the first round of the 2022 draft, Kaiir Elam was sitting there for Brett Veach and the Chiefs. So was Trent McDuffie.

Veach opted to trade up and steal McDuffie at 21, and Elam went to Buffalo two picks later.

Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kaiir Elam (20) tackles Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

Fast forward four years and McDuffie is with the Rams but Elam is now in Kansas City. According to insider Jordan Schultz, the Chiefs have agreed to terms with Elam on a free-agent contract.

Elam, a 6-1, 191-pound defender out of Florida, was the fourth cornerback selected in that 2022 draft behind Derek Stingley (Houston), Sauce Gardner (N.Y. Jets) and McDuffie. He’s also had the most turbulent NFL career.

Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) makes a catch against Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam (5) during the first half in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

What it means for Chiefs

But at this stage in free agency, he’s a smart signing for Kansas City. Elam is a physical Steve Spagnuolo-style cornerback, a player unafraid to press at the line. He also has length and respectable speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash in 2022).

What he’s not is a slot cornerback. Over his four NFL seasons, he’s had single-digit snaps each year from that position. He’s primarily an outside cover corner with explosiveness and recovery quickness.

Bills Kaiir Elam practices a few drills after the end of the official practice day. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK

Fulton will get a challenge

It’s an interesting signing because Elam figures to offer a stiff challenge to Kristian Fulton, the incumbent starter after the Rams got McDuffie in a March trade and signed the Chiefs’ other starter, Jaylen Watson.

Nohl Williams is expected to start on the other side, while free-agent Kader Kohou figures to man the all-important slot – a position McDuffie played so well for Spagnuolo since 2022.

Dec 25, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) can’t hold on to a pass as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kristian Fulton (8) makes the tackle in the endzone during the second quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Chiefs are familiar with Elam because they’ve played him – a lot. In fact, when Buffalo beat Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 16, 2022, Elam picked off Patrick Mahomes. He’s also been on the losing end of games in Kansas City, the Bills’ losses to the Chiefs in the 2023 and ’24 postseason.

Including that interception, Elam has four career picks, two in the regular season and two in the playoffs. He’s played 43 regular-season games (198 starts), with eight career passes defensed and three fumble recoveries. However, while it could change under Spagnuolo, he’s yet to record an NFL sack.

Oct 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) embraces Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam (24) after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Elam, who turns 25 in May, joins his fourth NFL organization. Last March, rather than agreeing on an extension after his third season, Buffalo opted to trade him to Dallas along with a sixth-round pick for two choices (the Cowboys’ fifth-rounder in 2025 and seventh-rounder in 2026).

Soon after the trade, the Cowboys decided they weren’t going to pick up his fifth-year option. After 10 games and seven starts, Dallas waived Elam just before its Thanksgiving matchup with the Chiefs.

Former Chiefs front-office executive Mike Borgonzi, who was in the team’s draft room that night in 2022, signed Elam to a contract with the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 26. Elam finished his season in Tennessee, which allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Dec 28, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) tries to put a move on Tennessee Titans cornerback Kaiir Elam (35) during the fourth quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Simmons-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Denny Simmons-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

And that’s significant. Signing with Kansas City as an unrestricted free agent, meaning he’s played four accrued NFL seasons and wasn’t released as a cap casualty such as Mike Danna and Jawaan Taylor, could put one of the Chiefs’ 2027 compensatory picks in jeopardy.

Prior to acquiring Elam on Thursday, the Chiefs were in line to receive three compensatory selections in the 2027 draft. According to Over the Cap, Kansas City was estimated to get an additional choice at the end of Round 4 for losing Watson, and two in Round 7 for losing Hollywood Brown and Charles Omenihu.