The Buffalo Bills have signed a number of longterm extensions and big contracts this offseason. Most notably, Josh Allen received a six-year contract, and Christian Benford also got paid to stay in Buffalo.
One notable holdout is running back James Cook, who has been the most outspoken about his desires for an extension. Earlier in the offseason, Cook went on Instagram Live demanding "15 million". Cook followed this up with a podcast appearance reinforcing his demands.
"I just feel like [players] are deserving of it," Cook said on Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson. "Like why not? We work all of our life to get paid. Feed me the big bucks. I want to go chase the highest of the highest and I'm going to keep doing it. I'm going to stand on what I stand on. And I don't want to feel like a cancer at all because I don't like all that attention. That's not me. I'm just standing on business and what I deserve."
Cook's request of $15 million annually would make him the third highest paid back in the NFL, trailing Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. It doesn't appear that he'll be getting that anytime soon, as general manager Brandon Beane revealed that they don't expect the team and Cook to get anything done.
"At this point, we're onto the draft. Once we got Benford done, and I don't see us doing any deals anytime soon. We're gonna focus on the draft, and getting our cap in order," said Beane.
As a result, The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer predicted the Bills take an upstate running back in a recent mock draft, drafting Syracuse star LeQuint Allen on Day 3.
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"Overall, Allen projects as a versatile option for an offense that should earn good volume at the NFL level," he wrote. "His refined game as both a ball-carrier and weapon in space showcases an intriguing prospect at the position who could challenge for an RB1 role in due time."
Allen is a 6-foot, 204 pound back with good vision and the potential be a third-down back, with good skills in the backfield and pass-blocking game.
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This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM.