The Buffalo Bills face a challenging situation in their contract extension negotiations with star running back James Cook. The young playmaker’s demand for a deal averaging $15 million per year forces Buffalo to weigh his worth against the evolving market for running backs in the NFL.
The James Cook Conundrum: Bills Facing RB Extension
In 2024, Cook tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns and posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season on his way to another Pro Bowl selection. His impact on the Bills’ offense was undeniable, as he led the team with 239 touches despite playing less than half of the offense’s total snaps (48%). His 4.9 yards per rushing attempt was the eighth-most in the league.
The Bills offense was also the fourth-best in PFSN’s 2024 Offense Rankings.
“On running back carries only, the Bills averaged a season-high 0.25 EPA per rush in the AFC Championship Game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs,” said PFSN’s Sterling Xie. “James Cook was spectacular, recording a season-high 134 scrimmage yards and a career-high 81% success rate (min. 10 plays).”
On the podcast “Nightcap,” Cook doubled down on his previous statement on social media regarding his desire for a big extension.
“I just feel like we’re deserving of it. Like, why not? We work all of our life to get paid. Feed me the big bucks,” Cook said. “… And I don’t want to feel like a cancer at all. Because I don’t like all that attention and all that. That’s not me, honestly. I’m just standing on business and what I deserve. That’s it. What I deserve.”
The Ghosts of Running Backs Past
The 2024 offseason saw a trio of veteran running backs test the market and find success with a new team during the season. SI’s Albert Breer gave his take on how the 2024 offseason could impact Buffalo’s negotiations with Cook:
“The James Cook contract situation is a tricky one for the Buffalo Bills, especially with the way deals for Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Derrick Henry worked out last year — making the positional-value argument a little less hard and fast.”
The New York Giants let Barkley sign with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former second overall pick led the league in total rushing yards — eclipsing 2,000 yards — and rushing yards per game (125.3).
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The Tennessee Titans allowed Henry to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, and the former second-round pick responded with the second-most rushing yards in the NFL. The Las Vegas Raiders moved on from Jacobs and the former first-round pick went on to rush for the sixth-most yards and fifth-most touchdowns for the Green Bay Packers.
If this were the 2024 offseason, the likelihood for Cook to end up with another team would be far greater. Given how Barkley, Henry, and Jacobs got big bucks and performed in new uniforms, the Bills have to give pause to letting Cook sign somewhere else.
Salary Cap Considerations
Buffalo is already in a tight cap situation, projecting to be $14 million over the 2025 salary cap, the third least space in the league. Cook is scheduled to make $5.6 million in 2025 before becoming a free agent in 2026. The Bills would save around $5.2 million if they were to release or trade Cook regardless if it happens before or after June 1.
The Pro Bowler’s demand for $15 million annually would make him the second-highest-paid running back in the NFL in terms of AAV, behind only Christian McCaffrey.
The outcome of this negotiation could have far-reaching effects for the Bills and the entire league as teams continue to grapple with how to value the running back position in the modern-day NFL.