Heading into the upcoming 2025 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills are expected to be one of the top Super Bowl contenders in the league. After making a run to the AFC Championship Game last year and coming up short against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills have had an interesting offseason.
One of the main storylines coming out of the busy period of the offseason has to do with the future of running back James Cook.
Cook has been wanting a new deal from Buffalo. So far, the team has not been on the same page with him, which has led to some tension.
There have been a lot of rumors that Cook could be on his way out of town. Whether that were to happen via a trade or simply him walking in free agency next offseason remains to be seen.
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It's also very possible that the two sides could come together and work something out that makes both happy.
With that being said, a new prediction has been made that sheds even more doubt on his future with the Bills.
Bleacher Report analyst Alex Ballentine took a look at every team's best trade assets ahead of the 2025 season. When it came to Buffalo, Cook was firmly on the list. That doesn't mean a trade is happening, but he's certainly a name to watch closely.
"Fortunately for Beane and Co., there aren't a lot of questions for one of the best offenses in the league," Ballentine wrote. "Josh Allen has proven he can make the Bills' weapons work, and the biggest potentially negative storyline revolves around whether James Cook will get a new contract extension or if we are headed toward a holdout."
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Cook put together a strong 2024 campaign with the Bills. He carried the football 207 times for 1,009 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He also caught 32 passes for 258 yards and two more scores.
Across the league, there are a lot of teams that could use that kind of production in the backfield. Buffalo would likely prefer to keep him around on a deal that makes sense, but if he's unwilling to negotiate, a trade could be a possibility.
It will be interesting to see what happens. Assuming Cook is on the roster in 2025, he'll be a huge part of the Bills' Super Bowl aspirations.
For more Buffalo Bills and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM.