Kaiir Elam

Cowboys declined CB Kaiir Elam’s fifth-year team option for 2026.

Although the Cowboys traded for Elam this offseason, this move was always expected. As noted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, “the option would have paid him around $12.7 million,” which the Cowboys deemed too steep a price for a player who has failed to meet first-round expectations. Elam is now officially playing on a one-year prove-it deal.