Overview
- The Chiefs notified Kaiir Elam he was released as part of final roster trimming to reach the 53-player limit on Sunday and he is now a free agent.
- Kansas City signed Elam in April to a one-year deal reported at $1.81 million with about $500,000 guaranteed, and he appeared in two preseason games, recording one tackle.
- Elam was a 2022 first-round pick (No. 23) by the Buffalo Bills who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in March 2025, waived by Dallas in November 2025, and had a short stint with the Tennessee Titans before joining the Chiefs.
- Beat reporters said Elam practiced and played well in camp but lost his spot because the Chiefs enter the season with heavy depth at cornerback, leaving no room for a fringe veteran.
- The move underscores how teams trim 90-man training camp rosters to 53 by the NFL deadline, and how declined fifth-year options and low-guarantee 'prove-it' deals shape a former first-round pick’s job security.