The Buffalo Bills and running back James Cook have been locked into a contract standoff throughout the entire NFL offseason thus far. To this point, there has been no end in sight.
Cook has seemingly been angling towards leaving the franchise after the 2025 NFL season. Assuming he doesn't get a new deal, that would be the most likely scenario. However, the tides may be turning regarding the situation.
Both parties would likely prefer to remain together. Finding a way to come to terms on a money situation that makes both sides happy has been the issue.
Ahead of training camp next month, a new update has been given that provides optimism about the possibility of Cook and the Bills working out a new contract.
According to a report from ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, there are reasons to think a deal could still get done. He urged fans to be patient with both parties as they work through their differences.
"I still think the door is open," Fowler said. "That's one I haven't checked on today, necessarily, but last I checked, there wasn't a lot of progress, but there was still like some optimism in the big picture that maybe they could figure something out, and they have four or five weeks to do it, whatever it is, before training camp, and then you still have camp. That doesn't have to be a deadline."
Cook became a huge part of the Buffalo offense last season. Losing him would be a major blow for the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen.
Throughout the course of the 2024 season, Cook played in 16 games. He carried the football 207 times for 1,009 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. In addition, he caught 32 passes for 258 yards and two more scores.
At just 25 years old, Cook still has the potential to be the long-term running back in Buffalo. This new report should give fans hope for that becoming a reality.
It will be interesting to see how the rest of the offseason goes between the two parties. The Bills may be waiting to see him replicate his success in 2025 that he had in 2024 before locking him in for big money.
Expect to continue hearing rumors and reports about Cook and Buffalo in the coming weeks and months. This is the most positive update that has come out about the situation, which gives hope that the Bills could still keep Cook in town for years to come.
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