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Buffalo Bills running back James Cook remains hopeful he can secure a new deal worth at least $15 million annually.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook may be pushing for a new contract, but he’s willing to go only so far to express his desires.
So, while he skipped all of the team’s voluntary offseason workouts, the two-time Pro Bowler was back on the field for this week’s mandatory minicamp. The financial ramifications of sitting out were too great to ignore.
Whether that results in an extension remains to be seen, but Cook certainly didn’t hurt his case by rejoining his teammates on the field.
“Our interactions with Jimbo have been good the whole time throughout,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane told reporters Thursday. “I know he wasn’t here (earlier this offseason), so everyone just draws their own conclusions.
“When you’re talking about it, it’s voluntary. We know that, we’ve had (players miss) it before, even with players who weren’t lobbying for a new contract or anything like that.”
How Do Other Running Back Contracts Compare?
Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, Cook has been vocal about his desire to land a contract of at least $15 million annually.
According to Over the Cap, just three running backs average that much per season: Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million), Christian McCaffrey ($19 million) and Derrick Henry ($15 million). The Bills may be hesitant to meet Cook’s demands, even after a season in scored 18 touchdowns, but that doesn’t necessarily mean all hope is lost.
Beane noted that the relationship between Cook and the team is “very good,” and that he’s looking forward to seeing him this summer for training camp at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, N.Y.
“Everything is business, so there ain’t no hard feelings,” Cook told reporters. “I don’t ever have beef with nobody. Everything going to work how it’s supposed to work.”
That’s certainly music to the Bills’ ears. Cook, 25, has been quick to distinguish himself as one of the league’s most productive running backs. In 16 games last season, Cook ran for 1,009 yards and 16 touchdowns, tying Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs for the league lead. He then rushed for another 272 yards and three scores in the postseason, which ended with Buffalo falling in the AFC Championship Game to Kansas City.
James Cook Expressed Desire for New Deal on Social Media
In February, Cook raised eyebrows when he turned to social media to express his desire for a new deal. Cook went on Instagram Live and pinned his own comment that read, “15 mill year.”
Cook is entering the final year of a four-year, $5.8 million rookie deal. He is slated to be a free agent after the following season, though the Bills could certainly delay that timeline by using the franchise tag.
Should the Bills meet Cook’s demands, he’d leapfrog a host of top running backs in average salary, including Jonathan Taylor ($14 million), Alvin Kamara ($12.2 million), Josh Jacobs ($12 million) and Aaron Jones ($10 million). All of them are older than Cook.
Behind Cook on Buffalo’s depth chart is Ray Davis, who ran for 442 yards on 113 carries (3.9 yards per carry) as a rookie in 2024.