Buffalo Bills have big decisions to make surrounding future of running game: The options
No one can blame Buffalo Bills running back James Cook for having a very high opinion of himself. After all, given the way he has performed across the last two seasons, why wouldn’t he?
What the Bills think of Cook, who has established himself as one of the most productive backs in the NFL, is another matter and we do not have a definitive answer today, and may not this month, or perhaps even through the balance of 2025.
As Cook heads into the final year of his rookie contract - one that is scheduled to carry a cap hit of $5.7 million which currently sits 17th among all NFL backs for 2025 - he has taken to social media to plead his case for a massive pay increase.
James Cook has said he is worth $15M
Everyone saw his Instagram post last month where he proclaimed he was worth $15 million per year, and shortly thereafter, as a guest on the Nightcap podcast hosted by former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, he reiterated his request.
“I just feel like we’re deserving of it,” he said, speaking of himself specifically and of running backs in general. “Like, why not? We work all of our life to get paid. Feed me the big bucks.”
Like all running backs, Cook is fighting the new order in the NFL, one that has devalued the position to the point where in terms of franchise tags, if a team were to place one on a running back in 2025, the pay would be $13.6 million for that one season. That’s the second-lowest tag number ahead of only a special teams player which is $6.3 million.
Franchise tags are calculated by taking the average of the top five salaries at each position. In 2026, based on the current salary information, the running back tag would increase to $14.2 million, still ahead of only a special teams tag.
Several options to weigh for Buffalo Bills
So Bills general manager Brandon Beane has to make a big decision in the next calendar year before Cook is eligible for unrestricted free agency in March 2026.
Does he extend Cook’s contract, enabling him to join his fellow 2022 Bills draft class members Terrel Bernard and Khalil Shakir who earlier this month were each extended four additional seasons?
Or does Beane wait to see what Cook does in 2025 and then try to get a deal done next offseason before the start of the new league year? If Beane does that, and he can’t come to an agreement with Cook’s agent, he could choose to use the franchise tag to lock him up for one more season and keep the negotiating window open, or risk losing him to another team.
“I want to go chase the highest of the highest, and I’m going to keep doing it,” Cook said on Nightcap. “I’m going to stand on what I stand on 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.”
Cook has been a key part of the Buffalo offense the last two years. In 2023 he ranked fourth in the NFL with 1,122 rushing yards and sixth in yards from scrimmage with 1,567. Last season, he was ninth in rushing at 1,009 yards, 26th in yards from scrimmage at 1,267, but he became a scoring machine as he tied for the league lead with 16 rushing TDs and was tied for second in total TDs at 18.
“I love James,” Beane said at the scouting combine last month. “James is a beautiful man, he really is. He’s a great dude. James speaks from the heart, he means well. I want James here, hopefully, like a lot of guys. The business is the business. Just because we’re not on the same page today doesn’t mean we wouldn’t be tomorrow, two weeks, two months, two years (from now).”
Buffalo Bills return all running backs from 2024
By re-signing free agent Ty Johnson, the Bills are bringing back their entire 2024 running back room which also includes Cook, 2024 fourth-round pick Ray Davis, and practice squad player Frank Gore Jr. They even re-signed Darrynton Evans who has been with the team in the last two training camps but has yet to appear in a game.
Johnson’s new deal carries through 2026, and Davis’ rookie deal goes through 2027, so the upcoming NFL Draft could provide a hint as to what Beane is thinking regarding Cook beyond 2025.
If Beane drafts a running back somewhere inside the first four rounds, that player could be looked upon as the future starter at the position. Or, he could be a depth addition if the Bills feel confident that Davis and Johnson can become the 1-2 punch should Cook no longer be on the team, and do so for far less than what a new Cook salary cap hit would entail.
James Cook's strong and weak points in Buffalo Bills offense
The issue with Cook’s asking price is that even with all his success, he is not a three-down back in Buffalo, mainly because he’s a poor pass protector. Last year Cook’s snap count per game was 30 which ranked tied for 39th among all running backs. There were 20 backs who averaged 40 or more snaps per game, led by Kyren Williams of the Rams who averaged 56.
In his favor is that when Cook was on the field, he was utilized. On his 485 total snaps, Cook either touched the ball on a run or pass, or was targeted with a pass, 51% of the time which ranked tied for sixth-highest. He’s a key man in the offense, and he and Beane both know it.
In 2024, Cook was on the field for 248 pass snaps in the regular season and he was asked to block on just 11, and he admitted, “I have to be able to be on the field every down in key situations. I feel like I can do it. At this point, what else can I do? Man, just keep me on the field, and great things will happen.”
The playing time situation is something Beane has to factor into his offer for a player who will turn 26 in September, playing a position where the attrition rate is high once they get into a second contract.
“I don’t want to get into what we can justify or not,” Beane said. “I think James can play on third down. I don’t think there’s a reason he can’t. If I was going to say anything he can improve on, probably pass pro – he can continue to improve that. Every contract has it’s own nuances to it and you’re comparing the market and things like that. James is a good player for us. He has the ability to be a mismatch player, he can play all three downs. He helped our offense do a lot of great things and we would love to keep James here long term.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: James Cook contract extension is options Buffalo Bills are weighing
Topics
-
Bills quarterback Allen agrees record £255m contract extension
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen agrees a new contract extension until 2030 worth up to a reported $330m (£255m) that will make him one of the highest paid players in NFL history.BBC News - Mar. 10 -
The Broncos have one big need left after free agency splashes
The Broncos have one big need after their free agency splashes: running back.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Bills keep Damar Hamlin off market, agreeing to 1-year deal with safety who went into cardiac arrest
The Buffalo Bills and safety Damar Hamlin have agreed on a one-year contract, keeping the unrestricted free agent off the marketABC News - Mar. 12 -
Two key Buffalo Bills free agent signings suspended for violating NFL PED policy
The Buffalo Bills won't have two of their newest defensive players to start the NFL season.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
S Damar Hamlin on re-signing with Buffalo Bills: 'Amazing to be back'
Safety Damar Hamlin is back in Buffalo in 2025 for his fifth season with the Bills where he's started 27 games over the past three years.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Running back Ronnie Rivers, defensive lineman Larrell Murchison returning to Rams on 1-year deals
Running back Ronnie Rivers and defensive lineman Larrell Murchison have agreed to one-year contracts to return to the Los Angeles Rams, the team announced Sunday. Rivers has played in 34 games ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16 -
Contract details for Buffalo Bills DE Michael Hoecht
What to know about Michael Hoecht's contract with the Bills:Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Two players recently signed by the Bills have been suspended by the NFL
Not good news for the Bills:Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Buffalo Bills reunite with player as secondary reshuffle continues during NFL free agency
The Bills brought a familiar face back:Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Will Wade 'paid' for misdeeds at LSU. Now, he's thankful for a 2nd power-conference shot at NC State
Will Wade stood on stage, hearing the applause from Wolfpack supporters enthralled with his vision of turning a tradition-rich men’s basketball program back into a consistent Atlantic Coast ...Yahoo Sports - 15m -
SEC coach vouches for playmaking receiver to be drafted by Patriots
Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz believes the New England Patriots drafting wide receiver Luther Burden III makes sense.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Clemson transfer wide receiver Tristan Smith impressing in spring camp
Clemson has a lot of talent at wide receiver, with transfer portal newcomer Tristan Smith impressing Garrett Riley so far this spring.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Clemson transfer wide receiver Tristan Smith impressing in spring camp
Clemson has a lot of talent at wide receiver, with transfer portal newcomer Tristan Smith impressing Garrett Riley so far this spring.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Cam Ward is poised to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — and the right fantasy football fit for the Titans
Cam Ward has been surging up NFL Draft boards.Yahoo Sports - 22m
More in Sports
-
Women's Sweet 16 rankings: UConn is No. 1, USC holds tight at No. 4 as Trojans await word on Watkins
The Sweet 16 is set, and there's a new No. 1. But all eyes are on USC and injured JuJu Watkins.ESPN - 10m -
Picks, predictions, key players for every women's Sweet 16 game
Why might every Sweet 16 team win its regional semifinal matchup in Birmingham and Spokane? We predict the winners.ESPN - 10m -
Picks, predictions, key players for every women's Sweet 16 game
Why might every Sweet 16 team win its regional semifinal matchup in Birmingham and Spokane? We predict the winners.ESPN - 10m -
2025 Houston Open picks, odds, field: Surprising predictions from golf model that's nailed 13 majors
SportsLine's model simulated the 2025 Texas Children's Houston Open 10,000 times and revealed its surprising PGA Tour golf picksCBS Sports - 13m -
Will Wade 'paid' for misdeeds at LSU. Now, he's thankful for a 2nd power-conference shot at NC State
Will Wade stood on stage, hearing the applause from Wolfpack supporters enthralled with his vision of turning a tradition-rich men’s basketball program back into a consistent Atlantic Coast ...Yahoo Sports - 15m