Pro Football Network has identified Kaiir Elam as the Buffalo Bills player most likely to be traded ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

He’s failed to carve out a significant role in the Buffalo Bills’ defense after the team traded up to select him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, appearing in just 16 games and starting only eight throughout his two professional seasons. He’s shown occasional flashes of brilliance in the form of timely, game-altering interceptions in important games, but the highlights have, unfortunately, been few and far between; he’s struggled to earn the unabated trust of Buffalo’s coaching staff due to his aggression and knack for taking penalties in inopportune moments.

It’s entirely too early to write the 23-year-old former All-SEC defender off, but there are justified reasons to be concerned about his long-term feasibility as a significant contributor. Some feel as though a change of scenery would be best for all parties; Pro Football Network’s Anthony DiBona is seemingly in this camp

The Buffalo Bills selected cornerback Kaiir Elam in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. 23 overall section. Despite his draft status, Elam has failed to impress Buffalo’s coaching staff, as he has started just eight games in his first two seasons,” DiBona wrote. “It appears as though the Bills are ready to move in a different direction at cornerback and Elam’s time might be up soon in Buffalo. Another team could be intrigued by Elam’s potential and think a fresh start could help turn his career around.”

The suggestion isn’t necessarily egregious, but it’s difficult to imagine the Bills moving on from Elam in the near future due primarily to their lack of depth at cornerback. The defender is currently penciled in as the third corner on Buffalo’s depth chart behind the play-making Rasul Douglas and underrated Christian Benford—given the importance of depth at the position and Buffalo’s recent history of cornerback injuries, the Bills trading their primary depth option does not seem like too feasible a proposition.

It’s also important to consider the potential return here. It’s tough to imagine another club parting ways with a significant asset for Elam given his underwhelming professional production—the most Buffalo could likely receive for the cornerback would be a day-three draft pick. At that point, is a trade worth it? Would moving on from a trait-sy defender who is just two years removed from being a first-round draft pick—who is just one injury away from ascending into a starting role—for a late draft selection really make sense?