Multiple Bills stars cash in without playing a single snap, earning a massive payday heading into 2026
Shoutout to these guys, a huge moment for them all.
Money, money, and more money. The Buffalo Bills’ season is officially over, which means we are looking forward to the new year. Before we can reach the official start of the new year in March, there are a few housekeeping items that the Buffalo Bills need to attend to.
On Monday, several Bills players secured a massive payday, all without playing a single snap. In fact, they didn’t have to do much of anything to get the payday; it’s just all about how their contract shakes out. An important note is that this doesn’t mean the players are getting the money right now; it just means that it became fully guaranteed.
Four Bills players received contract guarantees, with wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard, cornerback Christian Benford, and running back James Cook all cashing in. Whether they’re in Cancun or working out at the facilities at One Bills Drive, it’s a good day to be these guys.
A serious payday for some worthy, and some unworthy players
Shakir was arguably the Bills’ best weapon for quarterback Josh Allen. The team didn’t have a true No. 1 option, but Shakir was the most reliable outside of tight end Dalton Kincaid. To put it plainly, Shakir was available, which made the difference for the team.
With a team ravaged by injuries, having Shakir consistently available provided Buffalo a huge boost. He earned a whopping $11.9 as his salary is guaranteed with the clock striking 12 on Monday.
Shakir finished his season with 72 receptions for 719 yards and four touchdowns.
Another player who absolutely earned his contract was running back James Cook.
Cook ran away with the NFL’s rushing title and was perhaps the biggest offensive weapon outside of Allen. The saying “Let James Cook” proved to be fruitful for Buffalo, as Cook ascended to one of the very best at his position after signing a massive contract extension before the season began. He’s walking home with $9.4 million that became fully guaranteed on Monday.
Cook finished his season with 309 carries for 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 33 receptions for 291 yards and two touchdowns. Getting him more involved in the passing game will go a long way toward Buffalo having continued and improved success on offense in 2026.
Perhaps the most underrated cornerback in the league, Christian Benford, walked away with $14.5 million for his 2026 salary, and $2.5 million of his 2027 salary became guaranteed after Monday.
He’s the Rodney Dangerfield of NFL cornerbacks, and despite having another phenomenal season, he finds himself still disrespected at a large clip in league circles.
Benford played in 926 total snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, and earned a 66.8 defensive grade, a 90.1 run defense grade, a 73.1 tackling grade, a 97.6 pass rushing grade, and a 53.9 coverage grade. IT was a down year for Benford compared to his previous two seasons, according to PFF, but he was still as lockdown as they come when the lights shone the brightest.
Benford appeared in 14 games with two interceptions, four passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, two sacks, and 43 combined tackles.
Hoping for bigger and better things for Bernard in 2026
Last but not least is perhaps the most controversial player to receive a big payday on Monday. Linebacker Terrel Bernard struggled throughout the season, whether that was due to injury or the team finding a better option in linebacker Shaq Thompson, that remains to be seen.
Bernard just couldn’t stay on the field, and it was clear in the early stages of the season that a nagging injury was keeping him from performing at his best.
Nevertheless, Bernard might benefit the most from new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard joining the fold and switching up the defense to a 3-4 base instead of the 4-3 base they’ve run in the year prior with the “big nickel” sub-package.
Bernard finished the season appearing in 12 games with one interception, two fumble recoveries, and 65 combined tackles.
Some of these guarantees feel like money well spent, rewarding players who carried the Bills through a brutal season, while others feel more like a bet on what could be rather than what was.
Either way, the guarantees are set, the clock has struck midnight, and the pressure shifts to 2026. For better or worse, these four players are firmly tied to what the next version of the Bills looks like. Fortunately, for the most part, all players who earned a guarantee are elite playmakers playing some of their best football. For others, a change in philosophy could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
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