Bills RB James Cook indicates he's seeking $15M per season

Cook went to Instagram on Wednesday, posting a comment that said, "15 mill year."

It is clearly a calculated move by the former 2022 second-round pick, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which includes $5.19M in base salary.

If the Bills were to grant Cook's wishes and give him a contract worth $15M per season, it would make Cook tied for the second-highest-paid player at the position, only behind Christian McCaffrey.

Cook has definitely established himself as one of the best running backs in the league with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He also tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (16), and finished fifth among all running backs in yards per carry (4.9), but the $15M annually may be a bridge too far.

For instance, Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley led the league in rushing, was just shy from breaking the all-time single-season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson and catapulted the Eagles to a Lombardi Trophy. Yet, the 28-year-old running back only made just $12.6M in 2024.

Cook could warrant a contract similar to that but paying a running back who is part of a committee with Ray Davis, who accounted for 113 carries, Ty Johnson (41) and a constant rushing QB in Josh Allen (102) is simply too rich.

Buffalo is currently not paying any of their skill-position players big-time money — Khalil Shakir ($3.2M in base salary in 2025), Dalton Kincaid ($1.97M) and Keon Coleman ($1.25M) — so it could be time for an investment in a player that takes the load off of Allen's shoulders.

It is just the asking price that needs to come down from Cook's side of things.

There is no problem with keeping the former Georgia running back around for the foreseeable future but it has to be at the right cost.