While there’s plenty to praise about the job Brandon Beane did for the Buffalo Bills this past offseason, one storyline that drew negative attention was the situation surrounding James Cook’s contract.
All offseason, Cook—alongside his brother—has made it clear he’s aiming for a deal worth at least $15 million per year. And he has a case. Cook tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns last season with 16 and has logged back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns. Notably, he achieved those numbers without being a full-time, three-down back—a detail that could work either in his favor or against him.
Cook is arguably the Bills’ best offensive weapon aside from Josh Allen. However, the team’s approach to using a running back committee might hurt his chances of landing the extension he’s seeking. And to make matters more complicated, a recent Pro Football Focus (PFF) rankings list by Dalton Wasserman could also impact his bargaining power.
“Buffalo has assembled a strong bunch of running backs who play a variety of positions. The workhorse is James Cook, who had a fantastic 88.6 PFF rushing grade last season while leading the league in rushing touchdowns.
Rookie Ray Davis had 120 carries and scored a good 73.1 PFF running grade while breaking 30 tackles. Ty Johnson is a consistent pass catcher, ranking 10th among qualifiers in PFF receiving grade in 2024.”
Wasserman ranked NFL running back units heading into the 2025 season, placing the Bills at No. 8 overall. While Cook is a major reason for that high ranking, the presence of Ray Davis and Ty Johnson—who’ve both proven productive—also plays a role. Here’s what Wasserman had to say about Buffalo’s running backs
Production from other Bills RBs may cost James Cook long-term future with Bills
It would be one thing if James Cook was making noise about his contract situation and the Bills didn’t have a fallback plan—but they just might. Both Ray Davis and Ty Johnson are under contract beyond the 2025 season, giving Buffalo some security at the position. Still, letting go of Cook, who has established himself as one of the top running backs in the league, would be a significant gamble.
At the moment, everything appears smooth between the Bills and Cook—at least publicly. Cook has already committed to reporting for training camp next month, signaling that he’s prioritizing the team. However, behind the scenes, there could very well be some tense discussions between Cook and the front office regarding a possible extension—if one is even in the cards.
Even if Cook puts up another stellar season, the Bills might choose to move on if Davis and Johnson demonstrate they can handle the workload. In that scenario, Buffalo could lean on that duo and look to supplement the backfield through free agency or the draft next offseason.
