James Cook continues to establish himself as a key player in the Buffalo Bills’ offense. Since being selected 63rd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, the former Georgia running back has earned two Pro Bowl selections. He had a standout 2024 season, recording a personal best of 16 rushing touchdowns across 16 regular-season games.
As Cook enters the final year of his contract in 2025, the Bills have prioritized extending other core players. The team has already reached agreements with cornerback Christian Benford, edge rusher Greg Rousseau, linebacker Terrel Bernard, and wide receiver Khalil Shakir. However, Cook has yet to receive a similar extension.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane recently addressed the situation, making it clear that negotiations with Cook are not currently underway. Speaking at the league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, Beane praised Cook’s contributions but emphasized that the team had shifted focus to other extensions.
“I love James and I’m proud of his success, just like with the other guys we’ve extended,” Beane said, according to Matthew Bove of WKBW-TV in Buffalo. “I don’t discuss contract negotiations, but his representatives did confirm that we had talks. However, we didn’t make significant progress toward a deal, so we moved on to players we were aligned with. Right now, our focus is on the draft, and I don’t anticipate making any deals in the near future.”
Earlier in February, Cook took to Instagram to express his desired salary—$15 million per year. If granted, this would make him the third-highest-paid running back in the league, trailing only Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers and Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Although Cook is set to become a free agent in 2026, the Bills still have options to retain him. The team could utilize the franchise tag or transition tag to keep him under contract beyond his current deal. However, with no extension in sight for now, Cook’s future in Buffalo remains uncertain as he enters a critical contract year.
Leave a Reply