Agreeing to four extensions that produced team-friendly numbers this offseason, the Bills still have a James Cook issue to sort out. The Pro Bowl running back has angled for a second contract placing him near the top of the running back market, and Brandon Beane‘s comments on the situation did not exactly indicate a desire on the Bills’ part to placate him.
Beane pointed toward the possibility of Cook needing to prove himself once again in Buffalo’s offense. The former second-round pick is under contract for one more season, but he is stopping the Bills from reaching perfect attendance at OTAs. Cook is indeed absent to start the final round of voluntary work for the perennial AFC East champions, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Cook has skipped Bills offseason work thus far.
Given the developments that have shaped this stalemate, it would almost be surprising if Cook did show for OTAs. The two-year Buffalo starter floated a $15MM-per-year deal as a price point before the Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry extensions. The latter came in with a $15MM-AAV extension this month, and even though the Ravens standout’s deal became notable due to the likely Hall of Famer’s age (31), Cook matching Henry may be a tough ask for the Bills, who have not paid a running back in a bit.
Buffalo’s current regime has shown some reluctance to reward RBs. While previous Bills front offices passed on second contracts for Marshawn Lynch or C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson and LeSean McCoy were ultimately rewarded. McCoy received an extension upon being traded to Buffalo in 2015, but that deal occurred on Doug Whaley‘s watch. McCoy’s Buffalo separation transpired early in the Beane-Sean McDermott era. The Bills released McCoy months after drafting Devin Singletary in the second round. Singletary then played out his rookie contract, doing so as the team traded Zack Moss midway through his. Cook had arrived as a potential starter just before the Moss trade, but the time is near for the Bills to decide on his future.
Beane has said he does not expect a holdout from Cook, who would face roughly $100K in fines by skipping minicamp next month. A true holdout would not begin until training camp, and the language in the CBA pertaining to holdouts makes them difficult to wage — especially for fourth-year players. While teams can waive fines levied upon players holding out on fifth-year options, a complication emerges for non-first-round holdouts. With Cook needing to report by early August to ensure he accrues a fourth season toward free agency, a holdout will indeed be unlikely (and is not anticipated). A hold-in, however, will be something to monitor if he and the Bills cannot come to terms by then.
Leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns (16) despite Josh Allen‘s imposing goal-line presence, Cook posted a second 1,000-yard season in 2024. He served as an integral part of the Bills’ success, as the team has leaned into its run game following Joe Brady‘s climb to OC. It would be interesting, then, for the team to play hardball with the 25-year-old back. But that is nonetheless transpiring, even after the Bills paid Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau, Terrel Bernard and Christian Benford this offseason.