REPORT: Brandon Beane talks possible James Cook and Christian Benford extensions

Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane has been making the media rounds, appearing on multiple platforms after the initial wave of free agency settled. He held a press conference last week, joined former Bills center Eric Wood’s podcast, and recently sat down with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth on their Fitz and Whit show.

During the interview, the two former players commended the Bills for retaining their homegrown talent, touching on Josh Allen’s contract extension. Whitworth, drawing from his experience in small-market Cincinnati, emphasized how crucial it is for both the locker room and the city to see players earn long-term deals.

After the praise, Fitzpatrick shifted the conversation to two key pending free agents—running back James Cook and cornerback Christian Benford—pressing Beane on whether negotiations were ongoing or just a matter of time. Beane’s response was brief:

“We’ve definitely had dialogue with those guys. That’s probably as far as I would take it.”

His guarded response suggests that no imminent deals are in place. While Beane is known for keeping details close to the vest, he typically provides honest assessments. Notably, he didn’t mention any momentum in discussions or reference the players’ agents, which might indicate that talks haven’t progressed significantly.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Cook and Benford, Beane reiterated his preferred approach to roster building:

“If you could draw up what I want ideally for this team, it’s draft, develop—when I say develop, that’s on and off the field, the full person, the player—and re-sign.”

He acknowledged that business realities sometimes force tough decisions, citing Tremaine Edmunds as an example of a player they valued but ultimately couldn’t afford. However, Beane takes pride in the Bills’ ability to bring former players back when circumstances allow.

Still, his preference is to extend players he knows well rather than rely on external free agents. He highlighted recent extensions for Khalil Shakir, Terrel Bernard, and Greg Rousseau as examples of that philosophy.

Cook, who has publicly expressed his desire for a new deal before his free agency in 2026, initially set a $15 million annual asking price—then the second-highest for an NFL running back, now the third. Meanwhile, there’s been no public word from Benford’s camp, though he’s also expected to command a significant contract.