Buffalo Bills star running back James Cook is aiming to sign a contract extension this offseason. Cook has already taken his demands public, posting a comment on his social media account, claiming he's searching for $15 million per campaign. That may prove overly lofty, but he should sign a lucrative extension this summer.
Cook rushed for 1,009 yards while averaging 4.9 yards per carry this past season. More notably, he rushed for 16 touchdowns, tying Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs for the league lead. The dual-threat Cook added 258 receiving yards and two touchdowns to his offensive totals as a pass-catcher. He scored three additional times throughout the postseason, including twice in the AFC Championship Game.
It's no surprise Cook wants to discuss a contract extension after enjoying a monstrous season. The former Georgia standout is currently scheduled to enter a contract year in 2025 as a former 2022 second-round pick. Cook is severely underpaid, slated to earn a base salary of $5.1 million in 2025.
$15 million per campaign may prove unrealistic. An extension in that neighborhood would make Cook the second-highest-paid running back in the league annually, trailing just Christian McCaffrey and his $16 million per year contract. Last offseason's happenings at the position should prevent Cook from securing such a large payday.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Saquon Barkley to a three-year contract worth $37.7 million, averaging a little more than $12.5 million per year. Barkley of course went on to rush for 2,005 yards en route to winning Super Bowl LIX. Does Cook deserve significantly more money than that?
Josh Jacobs signed a contract worth $12 million per campaign with the Green Bay Packers last offseason that was structured to contain a team-friendly out. Just five running backs in the league make more than $10 million per campaign. Cook is well-positioned to join this prestigious group of backfield workhorses.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane should offer Cook a three-year extension worth $36.6 million. Such a proposal would pay Cook $12.2 million per year, surpassing Jacobs’ average annual salary. He'd fall just short of Barkley’s earnings while still establishing himself as a top-five-paid running back in the NFL. If the Bills are feeling generous, the contract could contain incentives that get him closer to his asking price of $15 million per season.
Cook would remain on his standard rookie contract through next season. Cook's multi-year extension would trigger in 2026, when the Bills are scheduled to possess approximately $20.6 million in effective cap space, according to OverTheCap's future projection. Beane must monitor his spending over the next few offseasons.
The Bills have a reputation for paying their homegrown talent. Ed Oliver, Dawson Knox, Matt Milano, and Dion Dawkins are a few examples of Bills players who have signed multi-year extensions in recent years. Cook is next.
Cook put forth an elite campaign statistically throughout 2024. He's understandably hoping to sign a lucrative extension with the Bills this offseason. Cook's salary demands may be slightly unrealistic, but he'll be a top-five paid running back in the league when all’s said and done.
