It’s business as usual at One Bills Drive.
The big question of the offseason for the Buffalo Bills was the status of running back James Cook, who’s entering the final year of his rookie deal. Cook has made it known that he wants to be paid among the top running backs in the league. However, we’ve heard that a new contract for Cook is not on the immediate horizon, now that the season is underway.
The two sides were unable to make any progress on a deal this past spring, which led to questions about Cook’s attendance at team activities — plenty of questions. After missing out on voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs) though, Cook is back in Orchard Park, NY for the first day of mandatory minicamp.
Cook is coming off his best season as a pro — a campaign where he totaled 16 touchdowns, which gave him a share of the NFL lead. Cook also had 1,000 yards rushing for the second-consecutive season. Originally a second-round pick by the Bills, Cook has really made an impact on offense after Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator halfway through the 2023 season.
For many, the question with Cook is whether or not he deserves the big money. It appears that the asking price would start at least in the $15-million-per-year range, which is a hefty price at a position that some observe as easily replaceable. Additionally, Buffalo has two good running backs behind Cook on the roster in Ty Johnson and Ray Davis, plus additional depth. However, the Bills didn’t select a running back during the 2025 NFL Draft. General manager Brandon Beane discussed the challenges of signing Cook to a new deal, early on in the offseason.
Either way, with Cook in attendance all eyes can now turn to football and hoping that he’ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder to show every ounce of his worth. Time will tell, of course, if he’s a full participant in this week’s minicamp.