There seems to be some tension between the Buffalo Bills and running back James Cook, who is pushing for a new contract. Still playing under his rookie deal, the Bills now face a decision: either let Cook finish out the final year of his contract or try to trade him for draft picks—especially with this year’s draft loaded with running back talent.
Cook has been impressive, topping 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons and scoring 19 total touchdowns last year, including the playoffs. However, the $15 million per year he’s reportedly seeking may be more than Buffalo is willing to pay.
This sets the stage for a potentially eventful draft. According to Gilberto Manzano, one ideal scenario would have the Bills trading Cook and selecting Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins. “Cook was a key part of Josh Allen’s success last year, but he’s not quite in the same tier as Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, or Christian McCaffrey to warrant a $15M annual salary,” Manzano explains. He suggests Buffalo could deal Cook for a third-round pick and replace him with Judkins, a physical back with impressive college production.
We floated a similar idea recently—Buffalo must make a call on Cook soon, and if things can’t be worked out, there would likely be teams interested in him. Judkins, who’s rushed for over 1,000 yards and at least 14 touchdowns each of his three seasons at Ohio State, could be a strong fit in Buffalo’s offense. While the team has publicly expressed a desire to keep Cook, business is business—and $15 million per year is a tough number to justify. We’ll likely get an answer in the next couple of weeks.