Bills Could Find James Cook 'Successor'

The Buffalo Bills and James Cook are at an impasse when discussing a new contract with Cook wanting roughly $15 million APY.

Set to play on the final year of his rookie deal, most players prefer to get their future sorted out before that eventuates...but Cook might not have a choice.

With a host of key players re-signing, Cook has been left out of the equation and has put his house in Buffalo up for sale (make of that what you will). 

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport stated that things aren't "great" between player and franchise, but with the draft coming up, and one that is deep at the running back position, Pro Football Focus thinks that if the Bills are to look for James' replacement, this is the draft to do it.

"If the Bills know they won't extend James Cook, then they could find a successor via an extremely deep running back class, " Pro Football Focus writes.

Considered one of the deeper running back drafts in recent memory, there is a chance Buffalo could get a solid starter in the third and fourth rounds.

However, general manager Brandon Beane stated at the annual owners meeting that just because Cook doesn't have a new deal now, it won't mean he won't have one in 12 months.

But the question is how Cook will play it. Will he hold out of training camp and try to force the Bills' hand? Or will he seek a trade to a team willing to pay him what he wants?

Either way, this thing has the potential to get messy, and if Buffalo is on the fence about extending Cook, there are ample replacements available in the next couple of weeks.