Buffalo Bills running back James Cook still wants a new deal. That won't be changing anytime soon.
The league leader in rushing touchdowns last season has consistently requested a new contract that will pay him over $15 million annually. With just under $5 million in salary cap space, Buffalo has been reluctant to match that request.
And maybe …
There's a deeper reason why the Bills may not want to give Cook that kind of deal.
And it could come down to what the running back does well and what he struggles with.
Cook's request is usually reserved for some of the game's elite running backs. The best backs are great at everything they do: receiving, rushing, and blocking.
Cook isn't the best blocker. Kyle Crabbs of AtoZ Sports broke that down as a big reason the runner may never get the deal he wants.
"Cook is a limited player in pass protection, period," Cook said. "He's been asked to pass protect just 44 times in the last two seasons and conceded nine pressures on those limited reps.
"That's a woeful ratio and a testament to why Cook is often off the field on third downs altogether."
The great running backs like Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley do their job in pass protection. Their teams are willing to pay them their worth because they do everything at a high level.
Cook - good as he is - does not. Are the Bills prepared to pay a “limited” star?
The argument is that wouldn't be a good allocation of resources. At the very least, it's a big reason why Cook's market may not be as strong as the running back thinks.