James Cook and Bills Suddenly ‘Motivated’ to Sign New Contract, Report Claims

We have heard nothing about any substantial movement - as we write this - regarding James Cook and the signing of a contract extension with the Buffalo Bills.

But maybe somebody has a scoop here.

At present, we find the contract situation with Cook and the Bills to be one that can get solved ... once the running back pulls way back from his seeking of a new deal worth roughly $15 million APY.

That isn't just problematic; it's simply not going to happen.

And with all due respect to Cook, if he leaves here are a free agent and gets courted in 2026, which he will ... he is very unlikely to find a bidder at that level.

Now, as attention turns to 2025, Cook will need to continue his good form, which has seen him surpass 1,000 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons, along with a whopping 16 rushing touchdowns last year, tying the franchise record.

Along the way there can be questions and answers about whether this is his final year in Buffalo, as The Athletic's Jacob Robinson has suggested.

"There’s more to this group than James Cook’s potential hold-in, as sophomore Ray Davis showed a three-down skillset that Buffalo seems to think Cook lacks (Cook played 47 percent of snaps in 2024, splitting time with Davis and Ty Johnson)," Robinson writes. "When Cook missed Week 6, Davis took 23 touches for 152 yards.

"Given the 26-year-old Cook’s role and GM Brandon Beane’s history — he’s never offered a rookie-contract runner an extension — I’m skeptical we see a long-term deal, meaning Buffalo should give Davis more opportunities in 2025."

But what about that scoop?

USAToday is reporting that "there’s growing optimism Cook and the Bills can reach a contract agreement by training camp,'' citing a source who guided the site to add, "Both sides are motivated to get a deal done and have been in talks since the team’s mandatory minicamp.''

Training camp will be the next checkpoint in Cook's negotiations with Buffalo ... unless the vibe suggested by the "scoop'' is accurate.

But one thing is true: Cook's own take. 

"Everything is a business, so no hard feelings," Cook said last month at Buffalo’s mandatory minicamp, when he showed up in order to avoid a fine. "Everything gonna work how it's supposed to work."