We don't know whether or not Tre'Davious White will be healthy enough to take the field to start the regular season (I'll dive into that storyline later in these Bills Camp Countdown articles), but regardless of his status, the play of Kaiir Elam and Dane Jackson will be a big focus throughout training camp and the preseason.
If White is good to go week 1, Elam and Jackson are battling for the starting CB2 job.
If White is still rehabbing his way back at the beginning of the regular season, those two are likely the starting corners.
Expectations are high for Elam, who is the presumed front-runner to play ahead of Jackson after the Bills traded up in the 1st round to select Elam 23rd overall.
The rookie out of Florida brings size (6'2" and 191 lbs) and athleticism (4.39 second 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine) that the Bills really haven't had at the position recently.
His specialty with the Gators was playing press coverage, something the Bills haven't done a lot of under Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier. However, those two as well as General Manager Brandon Beane, have noted how Elam gives them the versatility to possibly play more press. Still, he'll need to get used to the zone concepts this scheme often uses.
The only real time we saw Elam flash during the spring was an interception he had on the final day of mandatory minicamp.
The beginning of training camp will give us an early indicator on where he stands with grasping the playbook and adjusting to the pro game, especially once the pads come on.
Camp competition is nothing new to Jackson, who battled Levi Wallace last year for the CB2 starting job. While Wallace ultimately won the job, Jackson remained the next corner up and slid into the starting line-up after White suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Thanksgiving night. The 2020 7th round pick played pretty well the rest of the way, finishing the year with 41 tackles and 6 passes defended. However he did allow 50% or higher completion percentage on targets his way in five of the eight games he started, including 6 of 8 in the playoffs.
Beane and the coaching staff have continued their usual stance that all jobs are earned, indicating that the job won't be given to Elam just because he's the high draft pick.
Still, I'd be shocked if he wasn't starting week 1.
As for Jackson, strong play from him throughout camp is important for him, either as a spot starter for White, or depth at the position. If he struggles, the confidence in the position group as a whole could take a hit, possibly leading to the signing of a veteran free agent. It also could leave the door open for guys like Cam Lewis, Siran Neal, Olajiah Griffin, Nick McCloud, or Tim Harris to push themselves up the depth chart.
Lots to keep an eye on at corner from day one at St. John Fisher.
