James Cook will be back in the Buffalo Bills backfield.
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed the Pro Bowl running back will be on the field this season and expressed a desire to sign Cook past 2025.
“He will be here this year, and hopefully beyond. We’re focused on this season but yes, for 2025 we’ll have all three backs,” Beane said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “And again, we love James. We would love nothing more than to keep him here longer term. The immediate point right now is we got all three guys including him back for this season.”
Beane’s comments signal a commitment to Cook while keeping negotiations open-ended.
There was some fan trepidation over Cook’s availability when he didn’t show up to voluntary workouts earlier in the month. Beane emphasized at the time that the workouts are voluntary and suggested Cook’s absence didn’t indicate the running back’s dissatisfaction or foreshadow a holdout.
Cook is seeking a contract extension worth $15 million per year, based on his social media comments and podcast interviews. That would put him third at his position behind Philadelphia’ Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million) and San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey ($19 million) in average annual value. Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor ($14 million), New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara ($12.25 million) and Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs ($12 million) round out the top five.
Cook, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, is currently 44th among running backs in average yearly salary, according to Spotrac.
Ashton Jeanty, who was the No. 6 pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft, will make about $32 million fully guaranteed over his four-year rookie deal. The contract will make him the second-highest paid running back based on guaranteed value.
Beane has given contract extensions to cornerback Christian Benford (four years, $76 million), wide receiver Khalil Shakir (four years, $53 million) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (four years, $42 million) from Cook’s 2022 draft class. He told reporters at the NFL’s annual meeting in March that he didn’t see a deal with Cook coming “anytime soon.”
Cook has two straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024.
Buffalo didn’t add a running back in the draft and are rolling with the same core group. Ray Davis is entering his second year and the Bills re-signed Ty Johnson to a two-year contract. Buffalo signed Darrynton Evans for his third stint with the organization. Evans was with Buffalo last training camp and spent the first half of the season on injured reserve.