How the Long-Term Deal for This Bills Running Back Affects the Team and the RB Market
After many months of disagreement, the Bills have agreed to the terms of a contract extension with their top running back. Contract talks between James Cook and the Bills front office had been going back and forth for about six months, including some social media drama as well as a holdout. Bygones will be bygones, though, as both sides agreed to a four-year, $48 million contract with $30 million in guaranteed money. Though his $12 million per year only makes him the sixth-highest paid running back per season, his $48 million ties him with Josh Jacobs for the largest current contract at the position in total value.
Cook Has Impressed, But Is He Worth It?
After settling for running backs like Devin Singletary and Zack Moss in the Josh Allen era, the Bills’ front office didn’t want to let their star running back go. Cook earned Pro Bowl nods in both years as the starter with the Bills and averaged 1,417 yards from scrimmage and 12 scrimmage touchdowns per season over the last two seasons. The main drawback that has been pointed out about the five-foot-11, 190-pound RB is his snap share. With the Bills seeing him as unreliable in pass blocking, the team has relied on Ty Johnson and Ray Davis to split time with their lead back. This is concerning because the running back who signed an extension for less money just before Cook was Kyren Williams, who accounted for a league-leading 43% of touches for the Rams last season while playing in 87% of offensive snaps, and Cook accounted for less than half of Buffalo’s offensive snaps in 2024. This new contract begs the question: Will the Bills rely on Cook more now that he’s making $12 million a year, or will they continue to share snaps among the running back room?
What This Means for the RB Market
Running backs have been fighting for a long time for what they believe is their fair share. While every other position has increased its contract value over the years, running back contracts have declined. In 2018, the franchise tag for running backs was $11.87 million, but decreased to $10.1 million in 2023, when many top running backs were fighting tooth and nail to get contract extensions. Both the aforementioned Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor were fighting for long-term contract extensions at this time after establishing themselves as top-five players at the position. Jacobs was offered the franchise tag by the Raiders, and Taylor was committed to his contract holdout with the Colts. Eventually, the Raiders agreed on a one-year deal worth up to $12 million, and after starting 2-2, the Colts gave Taylor $14 million per season over three years. With Cook’s new deal, running backs are proving their worth won’t go unnoticed as he now has his payday with the third-most guaranteed money at his position, setting the standard for negotiations going forward.
