The Buffalo Bills in 2024 had one of the most consistent offenses in football, and part of the reason for that was Joe Brady's unit's ability to play complementary football.
Josh Allen could air it out and not turn the ball over, while James Cook was a stud on the ground, rushing for over 1,000 yards and a whopping 16 touchdowns.
But now Cook, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, reportedly wants to be one of the highest-paid backs in football.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane stated at the scouting combine that he wants to keep Cook, but we are about to see if that truly is the case.
"The Bills' leading receiver from 2024, Khalil Shakir, received a four-year extension this week, but another one of their important weapons is entering the final year of his rookie contract," CBS Sports writes. "Bills general manager Brandon Beane said he wants to keep his star running back in Buffalo for years to come. As you may remember, Cook previously hinted during an Instagram Live session that he's looking for $15 million per year -- which would make him the No. 2 highest-paid running back in the NFL."
Free agency will begin in a couple of weeks, and if the Bills haven't made much progress towards an extension …
Cook will be watching the market.
Are there going to be $15 million running backs out there?
Cook just wants to be paid what he feels he is worth, and maybe it will become clear over the coming weeks if the Bills feel the same.
The two-time Pro Bowler was a key piece of Brady's offense last season, so tying him down to a new deal would be beneficial - but only if the money is right.
The clock isn’t ticking.yet. But it is coming.