The Buffalo Bills have looked like one of the best teams in the NFL through three weeks. Their dynamic ground attack, led by Josh Allen and James Cook, has been stellar, en route to ranking fourth in rushing offense (155).
Cook has been one of the top running backs in the league, and with another productive season on the horizon, the team may need to revisit his contract earlier than they may have wanted.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler discussed how the running back market spiked this summer, and that raised the price for tailbacks around the league.
"Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs, Atlanta's Bijan Robinson, and Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor all surpassed the threshold of $20 million per year over the summer. Cook is in his prime (turned 27 last week) and is under contract through 2029 at a below-market clip, due $9.7 million in 2027," Fowler wrote.
Buffalo and Cook agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension in Aug. 2025, and now, one year later, that deal is a bargain among running backs. After seeing the money that the top RBs make, Cook will certainly want a raise.
Bills could be heading toward trouble with James Cook's contract
As things currently stand, Cook is the 12th-highest-paid running back on an annual average of $11.5 million, per OverTheCap. At the time of his extension, Cook was tied for the sixth-highest-paid running back annually in the NFL.
That just goes to show how quickly things can change in the NFL. And after getting his money, Cook took his play to another level. In 2025, he led the NFL in rushing yards (1,621) and rushing yards per game (95.4), along with 12 rushing touchdowns. The season prior, Cook led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (16).
He's kept his foot on the gas in 2026. After three games, Cook is third in the NFL in rushing yards (346) and first in yards per carry (6.0), with two touchdowns.
If he can produce at the same rate for another season, he'll be one of the best running backs in the NFL once again. He would be able to head right back to the negotiation table and demand more money. He has the stats to back it up, and when you look at some of the running backs who get paid more (Devon Achane, Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, and Josh Jacobs), they aren't better than Cook.
Buffalo also can't downplay how important he is to their offense. With Cook and Allen running the ball, they constantly put other teams in a bind. The Bills are chasing a Super Bowl, and Cook plays a massive role in their pursuit of one.
While they are focused on the 2026 season, in a few months, they will need to give Cook a raise because, if not, things will start to get awkward in Western New York.
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