Bills' Josh Allen shares plea amid James Cook contract saga

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, who is in the final year of his rookie deal, remained a non-participant at training camp on Thursday as he looks to secure a multiyear extension. 

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Bills quarterback Josh Allen made it clear he wants to have Cook as a weapon for at least the 2025 season. 

"James is who he is," Allen said, CBS Sports' Will Backus shared. "He's one of the best running backs in the league. It would be crazy not to say we want him out there. We desperately want him out there with us, and hopefully something can get done."  

Allen insisted that earning the Most Valuable Player Award for the 2024 regular season "doesn't change" his life because he's focused on guiding the Bills to a Super Bowl championship. As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook continued to list the Bills and Baltimore Ravens as the co-favorites at +600 betting odds to win Super Bowl LX. 

Meanwhile, StatMuse shows that Cook recorded the ninth-most regular-season rushing yards (2,131) in the NFL over the past two campaigns. Thus, it's understandable that Allen wants to have Cook back on the practice field as soon as possible.

The 25-year-old may want to earn around $15M per year via an extension. However, Kyren Williams of the Los Angeles Rams agreeing to a three-year, $33M deal that included $23M in guaranteed money this week may have unintentionally set the market for Cook's services. 

Meanwhile, Allen gets why Cook is using a hold-in as a negotiating tactic. Earlier in the offseason, Allen agreed to a six-year, $330M contract extension that included a record $250M in guaranteed money.

"At the end of the day, there is this huge business piece to this game," Allen added during his comments about Cook. "It's the hardest part. A lot of people don't understand it… This is generational stuff. It's wealth for you and your family. It's not a small chunk of change. He's making sure that he's healthy and still going through the mental reps. He's still doing that. He's a pro and he knows what he's doing." 

Cook allegedly "only wants to be a Buffalo Bill" this summer, but there's no sign a deal will get done before the Bills open the preseason against the New York Giants on Saturday. It remains to be seen if Cook will resume practicing before Buffalo faces the Chicago Bears on Aug. 17.