All Eyes On James Cook for Bills Training Camp

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 12:14 PM ET

OTAs and minicamp have come and gone, with Buffalo Bills running back James Cook still without a new contract.

Having been a full participant at mandatory minicamp, a surprise for many, attention turns to training camp next month as the next big checkpoint in contract talks.

James said he would be there, and general manager Brandon Beane echoed that thought, but we don't know in what capacity Cook will be on the field, as players often perform a "hold in" where they are present so they don't get fined, but don't participate in drills.

"Cook said earlier in the week that he planned to be at training camp but didn't specify if that included participating fully," ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg writes. "Beane added that as far as he can tell, Cook will be at training camp with or without a new deal."

James said that one of the reasons he was at minicamp was that he loves his money, and had he not been present, he could have been fined, so that already tells us how things are going on the contract front.

With Buffalo having just $100,000 in cap space per Over The Cap, getting a new contract worth roughly $15 million APY is going to be a tough thing to accomplish, but that is the Bills' problem, not James'.

Still, Cook has shown up for work and has put in the time this offseason, but training camp looms as a key date in negotiations between the player and the franchise.

With roughly six weeks to either come to terms or to tell Cook he's playing on in the final year of his rookie deal, we get the sense that James may have to wait for his long-term contract.

Which we imagine won't leave him too pleased.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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