Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is seeking a new and improved contract as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal in 2025. However, with the team already locking in key players like Josh Allen, Khalil Shakir, Greg Rousseau, Terrel Bernard, and Christian Benford, there’s not much salary cap space left to meet Cook’s reported $15 million average per year (APY) request. As a result, the relationship between Cook and the franchise is reportedly strained, and there’s even a chance he could skip training camp if things don’t improve.
That said, ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg highlighted how none of the Bills’ recent re-signings have been overly expensive, crediting the team’s strong culture for encouraging players to stay — even if it means accepting below-market deals. “Players agreeing to potentially lesser deals than what they could have found on the open market reflects a desire to stay in Buffalo,” she wrote, pointing to the appeal of playing with the reigning MVP and being part of a winning environment.
When looking at how those re-signed players rank salary-wise at their positions — Allen (3rd), Shakir (26th), Rousseau (11th), Benford (19th), Bernard (12th) — it’s clear the team has secured them on relatively team-friendly contracts. The question is whether Cook would be willing to follow suit. If his asking price dropped closer to $10 million APY, a deal might be possible. But as it stands, Buffalo may not be in a position to meet his demands. And with the NFL Draft approaching, selecting a running back could signal a ticking clock on Cook’s future in Buffalo. Still, the team’s strong culture and winning record might persuade him to reconsider and stay beyond 2025.