According to multiple reports coming out of Buffalo, Kaiir Elam is available before the NFL Trade Deadline later this afternoon. The Steelers are a team that could be a natural fit for the former Florida Gator. He was a first-round pick by the Bills in the 2022 NFL Draft and is still only 22 years old. He has struggled since entering the NFL, but a change of scenery might help.
He has fallen out of favor in Buffalo and the club has responded by signing free agents to take his starting spot. There are still three to four years of contract control of Elam after this season, and the hope is that you could buy low on this player and get plenty of rewards in the process. The Bills are searching for a championship this season, and Elam doesn't seem to be in that picture.
Here is where the Steelers make sense as a trade partner with the Bills
Both the Steelers and Bills are looking for different ways to improve and shake up their secondary. The black and gold have struggled to find success early with the initial starters of Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace. With Joey Porter Jr. in the fold, one of those two will lose playing time. They have already added Darius Rush to their roster recently, but he might be a project.
This trade duo makes sense as Pittsburgh could trade someone like Wallace and a mid to late round pick in the upcoming draft to acquire Elam. Some might be scratching their heads about another team wanting Wallace with how much he has struggled, but he used to play for Buffalo before signing with the Steelers in free agency years ago. He would be a known veteran for Buffalo.
The Steelers would then get rid of Wallace for a value to invest in the present and future of the cornerback position. Wallace would be able to jump onto a quality defense that could help rebound his poor performance from the first eight weeks of the season. With the question marks in Buffalo's cornerback room, it seems like Wallace might be a steady option for the Bills.
Elam would be a nice fit with the Steelers and a change of scenery could be a turnaround point for his career. Wallace could also benefit from this swap and the Bills would gain a cornerback with starting capabilities, even though he has struggled throughout this season. The NFL Trade Deadline is coming down to the wire, but this deal would make a lot of sense.