Welcome back to the latest edition of the Bills Mailbag. Let’s get right to your questions …
**Dave S. asks:** _With all the contract extensions that Brandon Beane has negotiated recently, which one of these players will be the first to depart the Bills via trade, free agency or some other reason? Josh Allen’s not going anywhere. What about the likes of Dion Dawkins, Khalil Shakir, Terrel Bernard, Greg Rousseau, James Cook, etc.?_
**Jay:** If we’re limiting the choices strictly to the players mentioned in your question, Dave, I’ll take Dawkins. He’s the oldest on your list and has the second-highest cap hit on the team behind Allen. Dawkins is still playing at a Pro Bowl level, so it’s more likely that the team tries to redo his contract than it is they move on from him. If we expand our possible answers to include other players the Bills could move on from after this season to create cap space, my list would include wide receiver Curtis Samuel – if he’s not traded this month for cap reasons – tight end Dawson Knox and defensive tackle Ed Oliver. Cutting Knox after this season could save the Bills nearly $10 million against the 2026 salary cap. That’s a big number. Oliver would probably need to be a post-June 1 cut next offseason, so it’s less likely the team would do that, but if rookie T.J. Sanders has a big season, it could lead the front office to the conclusion that Oliver is expendable.
Bills running back James Cook has a new contract with the team that runs through the 2029 season.
Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
**Tim in West Seneca asks:** _With James Cook signing his new contract with the Bills, do you foresee him playing more than 48% of the offensive plays this year, which is what he did in 2024 even though the new terms do not take effect until 2025? If yes, what do you think the percentage will be?_
**Jeff asks:** _It is often repeated that James Cook achieved his numbers playing about 50% of the offensive snaps. Considering the potential injuries to running backs, and the fact that they generally get “beaten up” during their careers, it would seem prudent to not increase his workload by too much. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Or am I being too cautious? I get that bigger money should yield bigger results. Did the “training” in training camp lose much because of his absence?_
**Jay:** I’d expect Cook’s snap count to go up slightly – let’s put it somewhere between 55% and 60% of the offensive snaps. Keep in mind, he missed a game last year because of injury and wasn’t needed much in the meaningless Week 18 game against New England, so he would have had a higher snap count. The Bills have said they believe he is a three-down back. Now, it’s time for both sides to prove that. I agree with your point, Jeff, that the Bills struck a good balance with their running game last year, so they shouldn’t feel forced to use Cook a great deal more than they did in 2024. As for the impact of missing a week of practice, I’d say it’s not consequential to the season. Plenty of other players have missed more time than that because of injury. Cook was still in the meetings and preparing for the season in other ways. He’ll be just fine.
**Phil in Williamsville asks:** _So what must be the question of the week, what do you think of the new deal the Bills gave James Cook? Is the $30 million guaranteed a true figure? Any idea if they plan to use him more on offense, especially third down?_
**Jay:** As mentioned above, I’d expect Cook’s usage to go up slightly, including on third down. As for the contract, the initial reports, as usual, inflated the value. Cook was guaranteed a bit more than $15 million at signing, and the true value of the contract is closer to three years, $30 million. Nevertheless, I think Cook did pretty well in his negotiation. It’s a fair deal for both sides, and rewards him for his excellent 2024 season.
**Ed Helinski asks:** _Good or bad, which players have had a memorable training camp so far? And in your estimation, which players need to step it up?_
**Jay:** Well, Cook certainly has had a memorable training camp, although probably not in a good way. The lasting memory of the 2025 camp will be injuries, so take your pick of those who have been hurt. On the good side, receiver Keon Coleman has taken a ton of reps with Allen and turned in some really nice plays. It’s been well documented what a big season this is for Coleman. As for who needs to step it up, I want to see Cole Bishop get back on the field. It’s time to see if he can handle a starting job at safety.
**Brenda Alesii asks:** _With his drops in the Bills’ preseason opener against the Giants, did Zach Davidson play himself off the team? In spite of the good reviews he garnered at camp, will he hit the waiver wire and do you think the Bills regret not re-signing Quintin Morris?_
**Jay:** No offense to Davidson, who I think has done a nice job the last couple of years in practices that have been open to the media, but I don’t think he was making the team even with a great game against the Giants. To your point, Brenda, his performance definitely hurt his case. The top three tight ends are Knox, Dalton Kincaid and rookie Jackson Hawes, who projects as a blocking-first option at the position. Barring an injury to any of them, it’s going to be near impossible for Davidson to make the roster. I don’t think there is any regret on the Bills’ part in not re-signing Morris. He did well in the role he was asked to fill, but the Bills clearly wanted an upgrade as a blocker, which they believe they’ve found with Hawes.
**Sam Ruggiero asks:** _With injuries mounting in key positions on defense to safety and the possibility of cornerback Max Hairston going on injured reserve, could the Bills possibly consider bringing back two familiar faces: Jordan Poyer to safety and Rasul Douglas as a safety valve at cornerback? I know Douglas hasn’t been signed by any team yet, but has his value to the Bills plummeted that far?_
**Jay:** I’d say there is a better chance they sign me and you, Sam. Maybe that’s a bit hyperbolic, but I do not get the sense either player is remotely on the Bills’ radar. The door for Douglas to return seemingly closed when the team signed both Dane Jackson and Tre’Davious White on top of drafting Hairston in the first round. A case could be made there is a need at safety, but the team seems committed to figuring out if the duo of Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop can be an impactful pairing. I’d be surprised to see a reunion with either Poyer or Douglas.
**Ray Beback asks:** _The Bills’ 2022 first-round pick, Kaiir Elam, is making an impression on his new team, the Dallas Cowboys. Many reporters believe that he may be a starting cornerback for them on opening day. Do you think his reported success could be a function of a different defensive philosophy, Elam feeling he can play freely in his new surroundings or could it be that the Cowboys are so decimated in their defensive backfield that Elam’s skillset shines in comparison to his competition? I truly wish him well._
**Jay:** It’s a bit of a cop out, but the reality is it can be a bit of all three of your suggested reasons, Ray. The Cowboys’ defensive scheme might better suit Elam’s skillset. He no longer has to deal with the pressure of being a first-round pick trying to avoid the “bust” label like he dealt with in Buffalo. Perhaps that has put his mind at ease and allowed him to play free. Finally, the roster depth in Dallas might not be as strong as it was in Buffalo. I’m not totally familiar with the Cowboys’ depth chart, but if it is true that Elam is in the running for a starting job, I agree – good for him. He worked hard while in Buffalo and never ran from his struggles. It didn’t work out for him here, but there is nothing wrong with Bills fans rooting for him to figure it out in Dallas.
**Ken T. asks:** _One of the most “painful” plays to experience for us Bills fans is defensive failure on third and long. Any advice on how to cope with this? It is getting to the point of being scary._
**Dave L. asks:** _I don’t want to overreact from a preseason game, but the defensive performance against the Giants looked no different than the last several years of predictable outcomes − no defensive line pressure, shaky defensive back coverage (wide open receivers), and the consistent inability to make a third-down stop. The Bills’ defense continues to look easy to play against for opposing offenses. Do you have any hope this might get better in the regular season, and if yes, what do you think is going to change?_
**Jay:** Close your eyes? Go into the kitchen and grab a drink before the opposing offense runs a play on third and long? Check the score of the other game real quick? Those would be just a few suggestions. I’m kidding, of course. I feel your pain, Ken. The Bills do seem to have a maddening time getting off the field in those situations. Given that it’s hard to sustain the takeaways the Bills’ defense came up with last season, it will be imperative for the group to do a better job of getting stops on third down. An improved pass rush with Joey Bosa and rookie T.J. Sanders joining Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver is the best way for that to happen. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich also can mix up his pressure calls as he learns from experience after his first season on the job.
I also understand your concerns, Dave. The defense has a lot to prove this season. General manager Brandon Beane sunk significant resources into rebuilding that side of the ball, and results must follow.
**Virginia O. asks:** _I have been wondering: Highmark Stadium is a nice place to watch a game when the sun is out. It is warm and fun. Is it possible to use the current stadium in the good weather months of September and October and the new stadium in November, December and hopefully January? Another question: Is Santa Claus for real? Every year I ask him for a Bills’ Super Bowl victory and it hasn’t happened, but I have been a good girl!_
**Jay:** That’s not possible for any number of reasons, the main one being the current stadium is set to be demolished in March 2027. I trust that the new stadium is going to be a great place to watch a game in September and October, too, Virginia. As for your other question, if you’ve been inspired to be a good girl because of Santa Claus, then of course he’s real to you.
Thank you for all the questions this week. As a reminder, they can be submitted via X to @JaySkurski or by email to [jskurski@buffnews.com](mailto:jskurski@buffnews.com).
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