Cowboys Decline Kaiir Elam's 5th-Year Option, Preparing for Free Agency

The Dallas Cowboys have declined to exercise cornerback Kaiir Elam's $12.7 million fifth-year option for the 2026 season, following his acquisition from the Buffalo Bills in a trade earlier this offseason. This decision, anticipated by analysts, is largely attributed to Elam's underwhelming performance and limited playing time during his three seasons in Buffalo. Elam will now enter the final year of his rookie contract with the Cowboys, who see the move as a cost-effective gamble to address depth concerns in their secondary. The team is navigating uncertainty at the cornerback position, with Trevon Diggs recovering from injury and DaRon Bland also entering the last year of his contract. Dallas has also invested in rookie Shavon Revel, adding further competition to the group. Elam's future with the Cowboys beyond 2025 remains uncertain as the team evaluates its options at cornerback.