Bills' James Cook Gets Reality Check Of Contract Pecking Order

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 11:09 PM ET

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook wants a new contract, fresh off yet another Pro Bowl season, over 1,000 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, tying the franchise record.

Wanting a reported $15 million APY contract, give or take a few million, Cook has shown up to mandatory minicamp, and has stated he will be at training camp, but we don't know if he will be present just so he doesn't get fined as he awaits his new deal.

Some see Cook's contract as the only thing that could derail Buffalo's Super Bowl intentions in 2025, and we tend to agree given how much Joe Brady leaned on the run game last season.

So it would make sense for the Bills and Cook to thrash out a deal, right? Well, yes, but in what is perhaps a look at how the situation is for James, ESPN's Aaron Schatz , in naming one final move for each team, has left guard David Edwards getting an extension, not Cook.

That isn't good for James.

Now, we know the Bills and Brandon Beane have said all the right things when it comes to their star back, but we need to see it through actions.

However, with just $100,700 in cap space, securing a new contract for what James is looking for will be extremely tough, if not impossible.

So they are in a tough spot, and if the Bills don't want to sign him, we bet a handful of other teams will, especially if Cook has another Pro Bowl season.

But for ESPN to pick Edwards over Cook as the next player to be re-signed, that might be quite the kick to the stomach for James.

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

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