This is not the offseason for Buffalo Bills running back James Cook. For the Bills, it's been rife with action, from new signings to over a half dozen extensions. They handed out new money and fresh years to Josh Allen, Terrel Bernard, Greg Rousseau, Reid Ferguson, and Khalil Shakir.
Now they've done it again, giving top cornerback Christian Benford a four-year, $76m extension. It seems everyone is getting paid by the Buffalo Bills this year. Tragically, that may not be the case for James Cook.
The value of James Cook
Cook is coming off the best season of his career, and the best of any player at his position during the Josh Allen-era in Buffalo. As co-touchdown leader last year, James Cook did plenty of work, and was a valuable addition to this team. He tripled his scoring production from 2023, and helped take the pressure Josh Allen's legs. On top of that, his 336 yards and three scores in the 2024 playoffs were helpful in the Bills postseason run.
So why doesn't he get the new contract? What about James Cook shows he's not deserving of new money and more time in the Bills backfield? The answer is in positional value and available funds. Expensive running back contracts are a luxury at the best of times. Is it any coincidence that Cook happens to excel in the two seasons with the best offensive line play the team has had in a decade?
The true nature of running back success, aside from a few notable outliers, is in line play. This powerful iteration of the team saw all three of their running backs succeed often, not just Cook. Whilst he's a great player, he is not more important than maintaining that line, for both the passing game and the run game.
Him playing his role is not more important than security at linebacker, or a top-tier cornerback to defend the pass. He does not provide greater value than an athletic defensive end, or Josh Allen's most trusted receiver. It's unfortunate, but true. James Cook is a luxury we simply cannot afford to indulge in.
No more new money
It's been a focus of this organization to give Josh Allen the weapons and support he needs to thrive; Running back just hasn't met that priority. This offseason, they've handed out over $450m in new money via contract extensions. Factoring in the outside signings of multiple important contributors such as receiver Josh Palmer and defensive ends Michael Hoecht and Joey Bosa, and it seems as though James Cook is in the bottom of this barrel.
His public statement of wanting $15m per season on a contract extension seems to have fallen on deaf ears. It was a strong demand, one that would make him the third-highest paid running back in the league, behind only Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. It's money the Bills would like to give him, if they thought it wouldn't cost them something more valuable somewhere else.
The massive new spending and future commitments, coupled with the slew of draft picks the Buffalo Bills have to use this season, makes another major extension unlikely. The Bills have managed to retain all their most critical players, and make their goal clear.
James Cook is a great player, and a solid teammate, but not the future of the running back position in Buffalo. The team has a history of not paying their running backs past their initial contract, and it's worked out quite well so far. It will likely be the plan again.