National media outlet suggests that key Buffalo Bills player could hold out during NFL training camp
Pro Football Focus says a Buffalo Bills player entering the final season of his rookie contract is under pressure to perform in 2025. PFF pointed out Bills running back James Cook as one of five NFL players on an expiring contract that needs to have a big season this fall. Cook, a former Georgia Bulldogs […]
Pro Football Focus says a Buffalo Bills player entering the final season of his rookie contract is under pressure to perform in 2025.
PFF pointed out Bills running back James Cook as one of five NFL players on an expiring contract that needs to have a big season this fall.
Cook, a former Georgia Bulldogs standout, was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Florida native is coming off solid back-to-back seasons, totaling 2,131 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons. Cook has also caught 76 passes for 703 yards and six touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Cook is hoping to get a new contract off the strength of his production over the last two seasons, but running back extensions can be tricky.
PFF suggested that Cook could hold out of training camp if he doesn't get a new deal this summer.
According to PFF, Cook wants a contract that pays him around $15 million annually.
From PFF: Cook is coming off a strong year in Buffalo, earning an 86.2 PFF overall grade and tying for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns. He set career highs in yards after contact per attempt (3.24) and forced missed tackles (47) while taking care of the ball, fumbling just once across 260 attempts.
The Pro Bowler has made it clear that he wants a new contract in the range of $15 million per year, which would make him among the highest-paid running backs in the league. The former Georgia Bulldog has been a productive and durable player over the past three years, but he hasn’t been utilized as an every-down player, making contract negotiations dicey. Cook's 207 carries in 2024 ranked 19th, while Bills backups Ty Johnson (400 snaps) and Ray Davis (286 snaps) earned significant playing time, as well.
Cook could hold out of training camp if a deal doesn’t get done, something the Super Bowl-contending Bills would like to avoid. If he is forced to play out the final year of his contract, he will be the lead back on one of the best offenses in the NFL, but the pressure will be on to produce at the level we saw in 2024 if he wants to earn top money at the position on his next deal.
The Bills aren't spending big bucks on a premier wide receiver, so they should be able to find a way to keep Cook in Buffalo. And that would be wise — the former Georgia running back is clearly a productive player and he's proved that he can have success in Buffalo. Running backs aren't valued like they were 20 or 30 years ago, but despite claims to the contrary, it's still not a position where teams can just "plug n play".
We'll see how the situation with Cook plays out this summer. If we've learned anything about the NFL over the last several years, it's that predicting how contract situations will play out is nearly impossible. It seems like there are always a few twists and turns.
