James Cook Re-Signs and Ends Holdout with Buffalo Bills
James Cook and the Buffalo Bills have agreed to a 4-year, $48 million extension to end Cook’s holdout and return him to the championship hopeful team.
Cook receives the most guaranteed money in the last five years for a running back with $30 million going to him.
Although that seems like a lot, this is fairly cheap for Cook with his youth and his production last year.
Cook had his first 1,000-yard season in 2023, but he exploded in 2024 with 16 rushing touchdowns, tying Baltimore’s Derrick Henry and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs for a league best.
This deal is good for both parties involved.
Cook turns 26 next month so his contract will be expiring at the end of the running back peak when they typically decline around 30. Plus, Cook’s contract didn’t reset the running back market as others are getting a higher annual salary.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley remains the highest at $20 million per year, followed by Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, and Alvin Kamara. On average, Cook will make the same $12 million annually as Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs.
Meanwhile, Cook does receive $30 million upfront with a lot of guaranteed money. He also stays in Buffalo’s offense with Josh Allen and is genuinely their second-best offensive playmaker behind the reigning league MVP.
Cook isn’t only suitable in the run game, but finished 3rd on the team in receptions behind receiver Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid. Without Buffalo having a legitimate #2 receiver, having an effective running back who can impact the game in multiple ways is a must to pair with a dynamic quarterback like Josh Allen.
We have seen a trend in running backs playing a significant role in playoff teams and their success in January. Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Jahmyr Gibbs are all running backs who top the stat sheet and are playing on some of the premier teams in the NFL.
All around, this is what contract negotiations should be. All parties involved benefit by resolving this fairly and now the Bills can focus on football come this fall.
Do you think James Cook will cook under this new contract? Let us know how he should fare in this next season.