Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has become one of the league's bright stars. He led the league in rushing touchdowns last year and has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Despite the success, Cook is in a difficult situation with the Bills. The Georgia product is looking for a long-term extension, and Buffalo has been unable to agree on a new contract.
Some analysts believe Cook could miss training camp next month if he doesn't get the deal he wants.
While a contract holdout can be a significant issue for any organization, the Bills are in a rare position.
They believe they have a starting caliber running back backing up their current Pro Bowler.
Ray Davis, the former fourth-round pick from the 2024 draft, is coming off a successful first season in Buffalo. As he prepares for his second year with the team, Davis has received rave reviews from his coaching staff.
During offseason workouts, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady made it clear that the team would be perfectly fine with Davis as a lead back.
"For a guy like Ray, who is as conscientious as it gets and wants to be a perfectionist, it's been really good for him to kind of take a step back and kind of be able to evaluate how he played last year," Brady said. "Watch the tape and learn the running back position at a different level."
As good as Davis has looked during offseason workouts, Buffalo still needs Cook on the field if they want to be considered genuine title contenders.
Buffalo should want to utilize Cook and Davis as a 1-2 punch early and often in 2025, but it's still a good sign that the team can rely on the Kentucky product to carry the workload when needed.