Position: Cornerback Height 1.80 m Weight 88 kg | Roster status: Reserve/Injured College Missouri Tigers football Name E. Gaines | |
Date of birth: (1992-02-23) February 23, 1992 (age 23) High school: Independence (MO) Ft. Osage NFL draft: 2014 / Round: 6 / Pick: 188 Role American football cornerback Current team St. Louis Rams (#33 / Cornerback) Profiles | ||
Place of birth: Independence, Missouri Parents Edwin Gaines, Alta Bailey | ||
Edwin "E. J." Gaines Jr. (born February 23, 1992) is an American football cornerback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Missouri. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, playing with them for three seasons before being traded to the Bills in 2017.
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High school career
Gaines attended Fort Osage High School in Independence, Missouri. He was a two-time First-team all-state performer, and helped lead his team to the Missouri Class 5 title game as a senior in 2009, in which he ran for 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 400 yards, while also starring in the secondary by making 72 tackles and two interceptions. His junior year, he had 89 tackles and added 5 interceptions (including one he returned for a score) in 2008. He recorded 88 tackles and five interceptions as a sophomore in 2007. He was also a standout performer in track and basketball for his school, as he won all-state honors in track two different years.
Considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com, Gaines was listed as the No. 44 cornerback in the nation in 2010.
College career
In 2010, as a true freshman at Missouri, Gaines appeared in all 13 games recording 26 tackles, as a backup cornerback. In 2011, he won a starting position and set a school record with 18 passes defended, while also finishing the season fifth on the team with 69 tackles, and two interceptions. He earned first team All-Big 12 honors. In 2012, he led the team with 11 pass break ups and finished with a career-high 74 tackles. He also forced two fumbles and had an interception. In his senior season, he intercepted a career-high five passes while adding 75 tackles, earning himself a first-team All-SEC selection.
St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams
Gaines was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round (188th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He started 15 games his rookie season in 2014, recording 70 tackles, 14 passes defensed and two interceptions, earning him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
After earning the starting cornerback job the previous season and during training camp, Gaines was placed on injured reserve on August 15, 2015 due to a Lisfranc injury, ending his season before it started.
Gaines returned to the starting lineup in 2016, playing in 11 games with 10 starts, recording 56 tackles and seven passes defensed. He missed five games in 2016 due to a thigh injury.
Buffalo Bills
On August 11, 2017, Gaines, along with a 2018 second round pick, was traded to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for Sammy Watkins and a 2018 sixth round pick.
Personal life
Gaines welcomed his first child, Edwin “Tre” Gaines III, with Juanita Clare on January 23, 2016.