Tag: Bills Cornerback

Bills’ Kaiir Elam, Christian Benford generate buzz in preseason vs. Colts

#Bills’ Kaiir Elam, Christian Benford generate buzz in preseason vs. #Colts:

The cornerback position has been one of the most talked about topics in Buffalo this past offseason, and two of the newest additions to that group made an impact in the team’s victory over Indianapolis on Saturday.

Rookie CBs Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford made their presence felt early, as each corner made a play during the first quarter to end a Colts offensive drive.

And head coach Sean McDermott took notice.

“It looked like both of them battled out there,” McDermott said while speaking to the press. “They didn’t shy away from the competition.”

Those moments weren’t lost on either player either.

“It was something I can cherish for the rest of my life, something that I’ll never take for granted,” Elam said, as the 1st round selection out of Florida addressed the media following the game. “(I’ll) probably remember this game when I’m 90 years old.”

A sixth-round pick out of Villanova, Benford echoed a similar sentiment.

“It’s, obviously, a life-changing experience,” Benford said. “We prayed for stuff like this every day. I prayed for it every day since I was a kid. And I thought about it, and I lined up against their ones, and it’s a joyful feeling. (There was) no fear. … (There was) no scariness. It was straight joy and happiness.”

Newly added QB Matt Ryan lined up under center across from them, taking extended preseason snaps with fellow Indy starters as he adjusts to a new team and system, giving the two young defensemen more gameplay against veteran talent.

“It didn’t really matter who lined up out there, I was just so excited to be out there,” Elam added. “Matt Ryan is, obviously, he’s a good quarterback. He’s had a heck of a career. But I was just so excited to be out there and really just cherish the moment and also make sure I did my part.”

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Sean McDermott on Bills CB Dane Jackson: ‘Dane’s a winner’

Sean McDermott on #Bills CB Dane Jackson: ‘Dane’s a winner’

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There has been some buzz around the cornerback group for the Buffalo Bills this offseason. 

From the addition of CB Kair Elam from Florida in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft to the play of Dane Jackson in the absence of injured pro-bowler Tre White, the corner position has been one of interest.

While the team and fans await White’s return, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott threw his support behind the player filling in for him at OTA workouts this week.

That being Dane Jackson, of course.

“Dane’s a winner”, McDermott said while addressing the press.

“He is committed. He’s one of the first ones here every morning, one of the last to leave. Comes in on his own, even on the weekends at times, and he’s a true pro.”

Questions had surrounded the cornerback position since last season, from who would fill in during White’s recovery to who would replace former starter and departed free agent Levi Wallace.

The Bills have answered them, whether it’s been Jackson’s play on the field or the addition of Elam.

And while he’s expressed his confidence in him before, McDermott isn’t the only one commending Jackson for his play and work ethic.

DC Leslie Frazier sang his praises during OTA’s as well, calling the CB’s gameplay experience last season “tremendously valuable” during his latest press conference.

“He played a lot of snaps for us”, Frazier added. “Really held his own, the moments never seemed too big for him. One of the best tackling young corners that’s in the league”.

That is high praise from Jackson’s coaches, and affirmation of the young CB himself as well as to the fans who’ve wondered if the team would look to add talent to White’s position until he returns.

With Jackson performing well as the next-man-up, there is reason for optimism that he’ll be able to hold down the fort at the corner while White returns and continue to contribute in rotations with the position group.

That type of youth and depth is valuable, especially in providing the team with competition and performance on the field against opponents, and also in helping to not only fill in for White but to help share the workload as he eventually transitions back to gameplay.

Jackson held his own last season and is continuing to earn the praises of the Bills coaching staff, which is both a testament to the team’s scouting and player development as well as to his work ethic.

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What GM Brandon Beane said about Bills first-round pick Kaiir Elam

What GM Brandon Beane said about #Bills first-round pick Kaiir Elam:

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Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane and his front office team have become known for doing their pre-draft homework on NFL prospects.

Beane has also become known for his maneuvering on NFL Draft days.

Both elements came into play on the first day of the draft, with a move to leapfrog multiple corner-needy teams to get his man

As the Bills sat waiting at number 25 overall, a player whom he deemed as a not only a good fit for the team but also the last one for whom he had a first-round grade was still on the board. That player was Florida CB Kaiir Elam.

The GM decided they would wait no longer.

He swapped the first-round spot at 25th overall and the 130th overall pick the Bills had in the fourth round with the Baltimore Ravens for the 23rd pick to take the corner.

Why the move up?

“We had a good grade on Kaiir and we were down to one player in the first round on our board,” Beane said while addressing the media after the pick. “At that point it just made sense.”

Moving up to take players that fit has become somewhat of a regular part of Beane’s repertoire as Buffalo’s general manager.

“It just felt like it was within striking distance,” the GM added. “And obviously, I’ve been hearing it loud and clear ‘we don’t have corners’ from every single one of you, neighbors, kids, everyone. So we’ll all sleep good tonight that we added a corner.”

Elam’s experience at the collegiate level was also a factor in the GM’s evaluation of him.

“He plays in the SEC, which you know is the closest thing to our level,” Beane added. “He’s gone against some top-tier talent in his career, guys that have already been drafted a year ago. We think he’s got a high ceiling. He’s a younger player. So, we just feel like he’s got a lot of things that he does well. He’s a bigger, longer guy. He’s got speed to carry the vertical. Some guys that are running high 4-5s struggle – they’re good in the shorter area, but they struggle the more the receivers get downfield. We think he can do that.”

“His tackling at times was a little bit shaky. We talked to him about it, and part of it, he felt was the way they were asking him to do. So he’ll have to – there are some things technique-wise that we’ll have him work on and clean up. But he’s a great young man. I think he’ll fit our DNA, fit our culture.”

Beane also noted the impression that was made during Elam’s pre-draft visit to One Bills Drive as a top-30 draft prospect as an influential factor in the decision.

“He was impressive,” Beane said. “That really kind of sealed the fate of ‘this guy would fit us if it worked out.”

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Kaiir Elam asked Bills about Tre’Davious White during pre-draft visit

Kaiir Elam asked #Bills about Tre’Davious White during pre-draft visit:

Pre-draft scouting has been a big part of the Bills roster-building process since Sean McDermott became head coach and Brandon Beane became GM.

The front office and coaching staff have built a team with talent that they’ve worked to develop, perhaps nowhere more so than those players who joined the team by way of the draft or post-draft periods.

Sometimes that might be third-round selections like WR Gabriel Davis or RB Devin Singletary, a fifth-round pick like LB Matt Milano. Other times that can be first-round talents like QB Josh Allen or CB Tre’Davious White.

As having experienced players and veterans involved in coaching up those players developing that came after them is part of the team’s culture, it may be of no surprise to learn that White has already had an impact on 2022 first-round pick CB Kaiir Elam.

As the corner was nearing the end of his pre-draft visit with the Bills, GM Brandon Beane asked if there was anything Elam wanted to ask about playing in the NFL.

The young CB asked about the current Bills star corner. 

“He said, ‘What does Tre White do, what has he done to be so good? What do you guys see?’ Beane said during his media session. “And then ‘what do you see in my game that you like, and what do you think I need to get better at?’ And just some really good questions, a guy that’s serious and focused and driven to be really good at his craft is what I took from it.”

What’s more, White happened to be there during the visit as he is rehabbing his injury at the Bills facilities. Giving Elam the opportunity to meet him.

“Honestly, he just told me how much he watched my game and how he liked the way I played,” Elam said to WKBW of his conversation with White. “I just tried to pick his brain and tried to learn as much as I could from him in the short amount of time we had. I’m super happy I got to meet him because he seemed like a super laid-back guy, super knowledgeable, and a guy who I feel like I could just go and try to learn from.”

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Instant analysis: Bills add overlooked Dane Jackson to finish 2020 draft

The Buffalo Bills put a cap on its 2020 NFL Draft class by selecting Pitt Panther cornerback Dane Jackson. 

The Buffalo Bills put a cap on its 2020 NFL Draft class by selecting Pitt Panther cornerback Dane Jackson in the seventh round at pick No. 239.

Projected as a nickel corner at the NFL level, Jackson flashes good footwork and stays on the hip of receivers. He has unparalleled competitiveness and feistiness, playing bigger than his size would indicate. This aggressiveness dovetails into his willingness in run support. Sometimes that aggressiveness leads to penalties.

As a senior, Jackson earned second-team All-ACC honors as a 13-game starter. He accumulated 43 tackles, three for loss, one interception and a team-high 12 pass breakups.

Even though Jackson does not jump off the charts in terms of athletic testing, he had a good showing at the Senior Bowl, which likely helped his stock. In fact, don’t sleep on Jackson. While Buffalo’s final draft pick, he was labeled at a fifth-round pick by NFL.com prior to the draft and he fell to the Bills.

With the Bills, Jackson has the opportunity to compete for roles on special teams and offers depth in sub-packages. He will have to beat out the likes of Taron Johnson, Siran Neal and safety Jaquan Johnson for a roster position. His a 6-foot, 187-pound frame probably keeps him away from seeing time competing outside as a boundary corner, at least early in his career.

At this point in the draft, you believe coaching can refine Jackson’s technique and vulnerability to penalties. However, the willingness and competitiveness is there, so at the very least you bring in an ultimate competitor and three-year starter to push veterans already on the roster.

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