Around the NFL
August 03, 2025
James Cook angling for an extension
James Cook is at training camp, but he’s still not happy with his contract. In an effort to move things along, he showed up in street clothes today.
Cook is apparently healthy. Sean McDermott was running down the list of Buffalo’s injuries and didn’t mention him. Poked at by reporters, Cook stated, “business.”
It’s reasonable for him to be miffed with his contract. He’s outperformed the four-year deal he received as a second-round pick back in 2022. That contract wasn’t negotiated; it was assigned to him as part of the current (ill-advised) labor agreement. He’s made a total of $4.6 million in his first three seasons, which is only a small fraction of what he’s been worth.
Cook has been one of the top dozen running backs over the past two years, averaging 65 rushing and 21 receiving yards in 33 games, with 24 touchdowns.
Since the Bills drafted him, Cook has averaged 4.9 yards per carry. Among backs with at least 400 carries, only one (Jahmyr Gibbs) has a higher average over the last three seasons.
YARDS PER CARRY (last 3 years)
PlayerAttYardsAvgTD
Jahmyr Gibbs, Det.4322,3575.4631James Cook, Buff.5332,6384.9527Christian McCaffrey, S.F.5662,8004.9534Derrick Henry, Ten.-Bal.9544,6264.8543Saquon Barkley, NYG-Phi.8874,2794.8235Aaron Jones, G.B.-Min.6102,9154.7817Bijan Robinson, Atl.5182,4324.6923Nick Chubb, Cle.4322,0274.6917James Conner, Ari.6272,9164.6526Raheem Mostert, Mia.4752,1814.5928Jonathan Taylor, Ind.6643,0334.5724Breece Hall, NYJ5122,3334.5622Isiah Pacheco, K.C.4582,0754.5315Kyren Williams, LAR5792,5824.4631Tyler Allgeier, Atl.5332,3624.4312Chuba Hubbard, Car.5832,5634.4018D’Andre Swift, 3 tms5812,5504.3920Tony Pollard, Dall.-Ten.7053,0914.3823Josh Jacobs, L.V.-G.B.8743,7874.3334Miles Sanders, Phi.-Car.4431,9064.3015Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E.5732,4604.2918David Montgomery, Chi.-Det.6052,5914.2831Devin Singletary, 3 tms5062,1544.2614Travis Etienne, Jac.6372,6914.2219Kenneth Walker, Sea.6002,5284.2126Austin Ekeler, LAC-Was.4601,9104.1528Brian Robinson, Was.5702,3294.0920Dameon Pierce, Hou.4051,6484.0710Alvin Kamara, N.O.6312,5414.0318Joe Mixon, Cin.-Hou.7122,8644.0233Najee Harris, Pitt.7903,1123.9424Rachaad White, T.B.5452,0843.8221Javonte Williams, Den.4031,4913.709Jamaal Williams, Det.-N.O.4161,5363.6919Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.-N.E.4891,7443.5720Kareem Hunt, Cle.-K.C.4581,6073.5120
With three years of service under his belt, Cook is now eligible for an extension, and he would like to sign it before putting his body at risk for another 17 games. That’s reasonable. There are three running backs making over $15 million – Barkley, McCaffrey, Henry – and Cook would like to move up into that group.
I don’t think he’ll be able to pull off that kind of deal. The Bills still have the leverage of having him under contract for an additional season, along with some depth behind him. Ray Davis played awfully well when Cook missed a game last year, and they also have veteran Ty Johnson. That should allow them to squeeze Cook to settle for something far more palatable for their tastes.
(For fantasy purposes, I don’t consider this to be a big deal – this should be settled long before Week 1.)
—Ian Allan
Dining and Cooking