Vikings Trade Pitch Nets Former 1st-Round Pick, $14 Million CB

Buffalo has a fifth-year team option on that contract, which it must decide whether to exercise by next offseason. Were the Bills to trade Elam, his new team would retain that right, which means the Vikings could keep the cornerback through 2026 before extending him on a multiyear deal.

Kaiir Elam Can Offer Vikings Potential Value in Trade

Elam appeared in 13 games as a rookie, starting six of them and tallying 2 interceptions in his initial NFL campaign, though he hasn’t made another since.

However, he played in just three total games last season, in large part due to a foot injury that kept him on the injured reserve list (IR) for several contests.

Elam has appeared in all four games in 2024, though he has split his time equally between defensive and special teams responsibilities playing just 23 snaps for each unit, per Pro Football Reference.

Given what Elam’s fifth-year salary figure is likely to be (it hasn’t been factored yet, as his playing time and production this season will impact the number), the Bills probably aren’t going to pick up their option on his deal. That means Elam will likely be an unrestricted free agent following 2025.

As such, Buffalo might do well to trade him now for some draft capital — particularly considering how frequently the team actually uses him.

There is no chance that the 23-year-old Elam can bring back first-round value at the point. However, a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick might be in the cards for the Bills if they can find an interested suitor ahead of the league’s November 5 trade deadline.

Vikings Last in Passing Yards Surrendered Through 4 Games

From the Vikings’ side of the equation, they may be able to get a player qualified to step in and contribute right away — and potentially even a starting-caliber cornerback — by buying relatively low on Elam now.

Minnesota selected CB Khyree Jackson in the fourth round of this year’s draft, and then he died tragically in an automobile crash in early July. Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, a third-round pick in 2023, tore his ACL and even more depth fell out of the Vikings secondary.

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has been able to scheme around the deficiencies in the defensive backfield, helping Minnesota to a 4-0 record and earning head coaching buzz in the process.

That said, the Vikings enter the final two games of Week 4 as the worst passing defense in the NFL in terms of yards allowed, having surrendered 1,097 total.