Is The 2025 Season 'Make Or Break' For BIlls' James Cook?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 9:21 PM ET

Here we sit, as OTAs continue for the Buffalo Bills, and running back James Cook isn't in attendance with his contract situation being far from resolved.

Wanting a new deal that would pay him roughly $15 million APY, the Bills have already allocated considerable salary cap space to a host of players who signed new deals, leaving just $1.6 million left, according to Over The Cap.

So even if the Bills wanted to, it doesn't seem feasible to re-sign Cook this offseason, and that's a problem because James has been a big part of the offense since being drafted.

In his three seasons, two of them have seen him surpass 1,000 yards and get Pro Bowl nods. For NFL.com's Nick Shook, it is looming as a defining season for Cook in 2025.

"Cook enters the new season with uncertainty long-term," Shook writes. "He’s made clear his desire for a new contract, but the Bills don’t appear to have budged, even after his second straight 1,000-yard season, in which he averaged nearly five yards per carry and rushed for a league-high 16 touchdowns. If Buffalo doesn't pay Cook, somebody else will, given that he maintains the performance he's demonstrated over the last two seasons."

So Cook, as things stand, will be playing for a new contract in 2025, but it won't just be the Bills he's trying to impress; it will be the long list of teams after his services next offseason if he becomes a free agent.

Post another 1,000-yard season with roughly 10+ touchdowns, and Cook will put himself in a great position to skyrocket up the running back contract leaderboard.

Will he get $15 million APY? That is unknown, but what isn't is that someone will pay James close to what he's worth. Bills Mafia hopes it's them; however, if Cook shows out in 2025, he might price Buffalo out of the running.

It isn't a make-or-break season for Cook because either way, he will get paid.

It's just a matter of by who.

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

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