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Bills' Trade Of James Cook Predicted As $15 Million Escape Route

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 11:07 AM ET

The Buffalo Bills and running back James Cook aren't in the best place right now, with Cook wanting a new contract that would reportedly pay him roughly $15 million APY.

Having seen other stars agree to terms on new deals, Cook could be a frustrated figure with how things are going right now as the franchise doesn't seem too keen to talk terms.

We have spoken about how the Bills could draft Cook's replacement with this year's class deep at the running back position, so that is one avenue to consider.

The other is looking to offload Cook via trade, and it is here where the 33rd Team's Ian Valentino has Cook as a draft-day trade option.

"With the 2025 NFL Draft class boasting a tremendous amount of depth and high-end options alike, Buffalo's most obvious cost-saving measure is to trade Cook for whatever they can get and plug in a rookie to pair with Ray Davis," Valentino writes. "The return on a Cook trade might not be huge, but the Bills can replenish their backfield during the draft weekend."

Ray Davis has shown flashes, so too Ty Johnson, but if a game were to be played today, would the Bills be confident in both to start the year? That is up for debate.

But with such a deep running back class, if the Bills did deal Cook, which we imagine wouldn't get them a big haul in return, likely a couple of extra picks in the later rounds, then there are a host of options the franchise could go with.

Dylan Sampson, Cam Skattebo, DJ Giddens, Damien Martinez, and Kaleb Johnson are just some of the names that could give the Bills great value in the later rounds.

Cook wants to be paid like a top back in football (that is, $15 million APY), and if the Bills aren't sure whether they want to part ways with that kind of money, then parting ways with Cook might be the next best option in what is being called an "escape route."

Getting an extra pick or two in the draft to then go and get his replacement might be the logical move, as the relationship between player and franchise seems rather strained right now.

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

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