The running back position is en vogue in the NFL, and James Cook wants to join the list of ball carriers who have received big-money extensions. He’s made that clear to the Buffalo Bills. GM Brandon Beane hasn’t given in to Cook’s demands yet, but expects the running back to suit up for the Bills in 2025.
Derrick Henry recently signed an extension with the Baltimore Ravens, and Cook took to X to share his short but sweet reaction.
James Cook Reacts to Derrick Henry’s New Contract
Buffalo selected Cook in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He didn’t start any games as a rookie and posted 507 yards and two rushing scores. Cook added 21 catches, 180 yards, and one receiving score that season.
He found his stride in 2023, starting 13 games and totaling 1,122 yards and two rushing touchdowns. He added another 44 catches, 445 yards, and four more receiving scores. Cook made the Pro Bowl that season, but took his game to the next level in 2024.
He started and appeared in all but one game last season, making the Pro Bowl again after finishing tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 16. Cook posted 1,009 rushing yards, 32 catches, 258 receiving yards, and two scores through the air.
Cook was particularly good in the postseason, and it appeared that the Bills had found a running game to get them over the Kansas City Chiefs hump. He rushed for 272 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s run to the AFC Championship Game, including two scores against Kansas City. Cook’s fourth-quarter acrobatic touchdown put the Bills ahead, but they fell short once again.
The running back position had a resurgence in 2024 with Henry and Saquon Barkley leading the way. Barkley surpassed 2,000 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles and signed a two-year, $41.2 million extension earlier this offseason. Henry rushed for 1,921 yards and recently signed a two-year, $30 million extension with Baltimore.
Cook had a brief response to a tweet announcing Henry’s extension.
Congrats ! https://t.co/GlqttwFdFY
— James Cook (@thegreat__4)
Cook tweeted, “Congrats!” It’s straight to the point. Earlier this offseason, Cook posted that he wanted $15 million per year on social media. Henry just got that from Baltimore, and Cook hasn’t shown up to the voluntary portion of Buffalo’s offseason program. Being a second-round pick, the team couldn’t exercise a fifth-year option, but the Bills still hold the leverage of the franchise tag.
Beane expects Cook to be ready for the 2025 regular season and said, “I don’t see us doing any deals anytime soon” before the 2025 NFL Draft. Beane has thrown praise on Cook, and doesn’t seem phased by the running back skipping the offseason program. He recently said, “Sometimes, business gets in the way, we understand that. Jimbo, he is a competitive dude. He loves playing for this team. He loves being a part of it. He loves his role here. And he fits this offense really well.”
Cook has now decided to keep contract discussions internal, saying, “I necessarily don’t want to talk about it right now, because it’s like, it’s something I want to hold in to myself. Just let the business take care of the business.”
The Bills are expected to have another strong season in 2025, and Cook will likely be at the center of it. Neither Cook nor the team has played hardball regarding his contract, but Cook’s number could go up if he has another Pro Bowl campaign.