The first former Gator is off the board in the 2022 NFL draft. Cornerback [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag] will play for the Buffalo Bills to begin his professional career.
Elam was well regarded as one of the Southeastern Conference’s top corners in 2022. A knee injury sidelined him for three games, but he still finished the year with 29 total tackles (17 solo), five pass deflections and an interception. Most offenses opted to throw away from him due to his shutdown reputation.
Florida’s poor defensive year as a team and scheme didn’t give Elam the kind of boost he had in mind when he decided to return. Instead of becoming a bonafide first-rounder, experts such as ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. wavered on him and kept him on the fringe.
The Bills ended up trading up for Elam making him the fourth corner off the board at No. 23 overall behind LSU‘s Derek Stingley, Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner and Washington’s Trent McDuffie.
Dreams come true.
Welcome to the @NFL, @kaiirelam5! #GatorMade | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/7pe0JnhicI
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 29, 2022
With Elam drafted, Florida’s next likely candidate to go is running back [autotag]Dameon Pierce[/autotag]. There’s a chance he hears his name called on Day 2 which begins at 7 p.m. EDT on Friday and airs on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.
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