It will be very important for the Buffalo Bills to be aggressive in free agency and in the draft. Obviously they are one of the best teams in the NFL and have the MVP of the league at quarterback, but they are still failing to get over the playoff hump and make it to the Super Bowl.
On top of finding ways to better their roster, the Bills are now involved in some contract drama involving their rising star running back, James Cook. In the middle and end of this past season, Cook’s older brother, Dalvin, has been advocating for his little brother to get the bag. Now James is speaking for himself on wanting to get paid $15 million per year.
Cook is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and he is looking to get paid. The front office for the Bills has a tough decision to make on whether or not they can, or even want to pay Cook to be part of the future in Buffalo.
If the Bills feel that Cook isn’t worth $15 million a year or the two sides can’t come to an agreement, then it would be obvious that the Bills would go out and draft a running back this coming April. Even with Ray Davis on the roster, the Bills are use their running back room like a committee and they would need a complimentary piece.
Bills find their replacement for James Cook in 2-round NFL mock draft
Round 1, No. 30: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
The Bills won’t grab themselves a running back late in the first round and there is little to no chance that Boise State standout Ashton Jeanty falls down in Buffalo’s lap. Instead, the Bills prioritize taking care of the secondary early by drafting Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison.
Even though Morrison’s 2024 season was cut short due to a hip injur, he provides a lot of upside and has the ability to take on any receiver that lines up in front of him. If he can get back to his 2022 oldself, the Bills will be able to get themselves a steal.
Round 2, No. 56: DT Deone Walker, Kentucky
If Deone Walker has entered into the 2024 NFL Draft, he most likely would have been a top first-rounder. However, he did take a little bit of a step back from 2023 to 2024, but nonetheless, he still can easily plug the middle of the defensive line and be a great complimentary player to Ed Oliver.
His biggest promise that he shows is his ability to create an interior pass-rush at 6’6” 345lbs. It would be seriously surprising if Walker makes it down to the end of the second round but if he does, Beane should not hesitate to call in the pick with Walker’s name on the card.
Round 2, No. 62: RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
The only way the Bills draft a running back this high is if they firmly believe that James Cook won’t be a Bill beyond 2025. If that’s the case and TreVeyon Henderson is still on the board, Buffalo has their replacement for Cook.
Henderson averaged over six yards per carry in four seasons with the Buckeyes and had 10+ rushing touchdowns in three out of our seasons. Another big factor to consider is that Henderson averaged over 200 receiving yards while at Ohio State.
While James Cook has been fantastic for the Bills the last two seasons, maybe this great story comes to an end sooner than Bills fans were hoping for. If it is trending in that direction, then the Bills need to get his replacement and Henderson would be a great option.