The Buffalo Bills haven’t signed running back James Cook to a contract extension, and that’s already sparked trade rumors, with both sides seemingly far apart on terms.
The Bills re-signed several players who were set to enter the final year of their contract, including WR Khalil Shakir, DE Greg Rousseau, LB Terrel Bernard, and CB Christian Benford. With Cook seemingly certain he won’t be getting a contract extension with the Bills, his next move made it clear how he feels about the situation.
James Cook Lists His Buffalo Residence for Sale
This week, Cook’s Orchard Park, N.Y., residence was listed for sale. The listing included photos of game balls and framed jerseys, strongly signaling his disappointment.
The sale doesn’t suggest Cook is looking to move out immediately — he still has one season left on his deal with the Bills. It could be for several other reasons, including him wanting a bigger or different home. The property was originally purchased in 2022 by a Minnesota LLC owned by Cook’s brother, former Minnesota Vikings star Dalvin Cook.
This could be a message to the team or just preparation for a possible reality — or both. Cook has reportedly hinted at wanting a deal worth around $15 million, but that clearly exceeds the current $13.64 million franchise tag for running backs.
After Benford’s deal, Bills GM Brandon Beane made it clear that the franchise won’t be making “any deals anytime soon” at the annual league meeting.
So far, Cook has had a notable run with the Bills, scoring 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024 and earning a second-straight Pro Bowl nod. There’s still a chance the Bills will sign him before he hits free agency.
“Just because we don’t have James signed today doesn’t mean next year we still can’t get a deal done before he gets to free agency,” Beane said, explaining that they “are rooting for him.”
“Jimbo’s a pro. I respect him and love him to death. We want nothing more [than] for James to continue being a Buffalo Bill well past this season. But we are where we are,” Beane added.
The Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs are among the top teams looking for running back help — possibly prompting a trade involving Cook. However, Buffalo will likely want to keep him around as long as it can. While Josh Allen is the leader of the offense, Cook was the engine that kept it running as the Bills earned the fourth-best grade of 2025, according to PFSN’s Offense+ metric.