James Cook expressed early in the offseason that he wants to be paid $15 million per year.
Coming off a season with a league-high 16 rushing touchdowns, he might have a case. But the Buffalo Bills have handed out extensions to pretty much every other eligible star on their roster except Cook.
Working against him, clearly, is the modern approach to not give RBs huge contracts. The position is viewed, rightly or wrongly, as more replaceable and more fickle.
Between injuries and roster depth, the Bills may not feel that signing Cook long-term is necessary toward putting the best team on the field.
Recently, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports broke down the Cook extension conundrum.
“The Bills running back is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and it hasn’t been a secret that he’s looking to get paid,” Sullivan wrote. Back in February, Cook indicated that he was looking at a deal around $15 million per season. If he gets such a deal, it’ll knot him with Baltimore’s Derrick Henry as the third-highest paid running back in the league on an average annual basis. In 2024, Cook tied O.J. Simpson for the most rushing touchdowns (16) in a season in franchise history. If he keeps putting up those totals, he’ll continue to build a solid case to be paid.”
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It’s safe to assume Cook won’t end up with $15 million per year, unless perhaps he has some kind of record-setting season in 2025.
Cook’s statistical ceiling is capped by Josh Allen, though. The Bills’ offense runs through their superstar quarterback.
Buffalo also has second-year back Ray Davis and third-down dynamo Ty Johnson. Cook is a phenomenal player, but the Bills are more than just him.
A contract could come down to compromise, and which side is more willing to move in the other’s direction.
Bills fans have to be hoping at this point that Cook’s contract doesn’t lead to a holdout or any drama, because Buffalo needs him to win the Super Bowl. They just might not want to quite pay him for it.
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