The Buffalo Bills are once again preparing to be major contenders in the upcoming NFL season. For this reason, the front office moved quickly to secure the permanence of key players on the roster, led by Josh Allen. However, there is one player who doesn’t fall into this ‘indispensable’ category, and Brandon Beane believes a deal can be reached before he hits free agency.
James Cook arrived in Orchard Park in 2022, and slowly became an important weapon for Allen throughout his appearances during the season. As he enters the final year of his rookie contract, the running back is seeking a contract extension that matches his performance level, something Beane stated he is not considering at the moment.
“I love Jimbo, proud of his success, just like these other guys that we got extended,” Beane told reporters from the Annual League Meeting via NFL.com. “I don’t talk about negotiations, I would say his reps and him did put it out there that we did talk, so I’m not sharing anything new. It didn’t lead to anything as far as closing in on a deal, so we moved onto the guys that we were more on the same page with.
“At this point, we’re on to the draft, once we got (Christian) Benford done. I don’t see us doing any deals anytime soon.” While Cook waits eagerly for a resolution to his situation, the Bills‘ GM is clear that, for now, a short-term solution is far from being reached.
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills hands off the ball to teammate James Cook #4 in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at Highmark Stadium on January 12, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.
Since his arrival with the Bills, Cook has played a total of 49 games, being a starter in 29 of them. He has scored a total of 20 rushing touchdowns, 16 of which came in the most recent season. In his three years in Buffalo, he has rushed for 2,638 yards, making him one of the main weapons for Sean McDermott in his offense.
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Cook’s message about his renewal
James Cook knows he is a key piece of the team in Buffalo, and for that reason, he believes a contract extension that reflects his level of play should be carried out to keep him with the franchise. However, for Brandon Beane, this is not a priority at the moment.
Weeks ago, the former Georgia Bulldogs player expressed to the press his intentions to reach an agreement and secure a lucrative contract extension in order to continue playing for the Bills.
“I just feel like we’re deserving of it. Like, why not? We work all of our life to get paid. Feed me the big bucks,” the RB stated via Ryan Talbot of New York Upstate. “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 and all that. That’s not me, honestly. I’m just standing on business and what I deserve. That’s it. What I deserve.”
The highest-paid running backs in the NFL
James Cook wants to join the club of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, after requesting a $15 million per year contract. Currently, the ranking is led by Super Bowl champion with the Eagles, Saquon Barkley, followed by Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers. Here’s the top 10, according to profootballnetwork.com:
- Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) – $20.6 million
- Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers) – $19 million
- Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts) – $14 million
- Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints) – $12.25 million
- Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers) – $12 million
- James Conner (Arizona Cardinals) – $9.5 million
- David Montgomery (Detroit Lions) – $9.125 million
- Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots) – $9 million
- Joe Mixon (Houston Texans) – $8.5 million
- Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers) – $8.3 million
SurveyShould the Bills offer James Cook a contract extension?
Should the Bills offer James Cook a contract extension?
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