Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has been one of the more consistent running backs in the game over the last couple of years.
The Georgia product has recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and even led the league in rushing touchdowns last season. As he enters the final year of his rookie deal, though, Cook has yet to be given a long-term extension with the Bills.
And he isn't thrilled by that.
Cook has repeatedly stated that he is looking for a new deal that pays him close to $15 million per year. Whatever that looks like to him would be irrelevant as long as he is paid fair market value at this point.
And it doesn't help that while the team has given extensions to other players on the team, he remains someone Buffalo is staying patient with their contract talks.
"Just because we don't get an extension done now, or before the start of the league year, doesn't mean we won't in the league year, or you guys have seen us do them in the summer as well," said general manager Brandon Beane while addressing reporters at the NFL Combine.
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Buffalo agreed to extensions to Greg Rousseau and Terrel Bernard. Both players have produced well, but it could be the exact reason why Cook chooses to sit out of certain activities with the team this offseason included minicamp and even training camp.
Should that happen, the Bills would be in a bind. And one they simply can't get out of unless they either give Cook a new deal or ship him elsewhere to a new team.
Either way, this Cook-Buffalo contract stand-off will only get uglier as we get closer to offseason workouts.
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This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM.