James Cook Apparently Wants Mega Money — Should He Get it?
It’s another edition of The Podbag on this episode of Talking Buffalo, as Patrick Moran goes through several listener submitted questions and responds, including Buffalo Bills running back James Cook apparently wanting a whole lot of money in his next contract, what the team should do with Von Miller and what it would take for Patrick to take the Buffalo Sabres serious again.
James Cook took to his Instagram this week and certainly made it seem like he thinks he’s worth $15 million per year. Patrick discusses if that’s going to happen at Buffalo this offseason if at all and if trading him is now a possibility. (Spoiler alert–that ain’t happening)
As for Miller, he did have a decent 2024 campaign with six sacks and a few big plays, including one in the divisional round but is that enough for Patrick to want him back in 2025 on a restructured deal or another incentive-laced pay cut? Patrick explains why he thinks keeping him around is a bad idea and probably prohibits other things from happening.
Also, did 2024 prove that the Bills passing game can consistently work without a true No. 1 wide receiver? That plus a Cooper Dejean miss, taking one player from any team in the NFL debate, the best Buffalo weekend you could offer a visitor and much more.
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10 Comments
Trade his ass or use him for the last year n draft another rb lol
Crazy if bills pay more than 8 for a rb. Specially when they could of have had Barkley or henry for less. N he aint no top 5 or top 10. Lol
At 15 million per be making 73% of what Barkley and Henry made combined this season… I like he had all these TDs and explosive plays this season all the while only playing 50% of the snaps. But he's not worth that. The two mentioned has historic years. Cook in rushing yards was like 16th and needed the last game to hit 1k.
Maybe something like 3 years 27 million 15 gtd, similar to a Chubba Hubbard contract.
KEEP HIM PLEASE!!!!!
He isn't Henry or Barkley…. Yet. He doesn't deserve top money. Frankly, I believe Ray Davis could replace him and actually be be better. He's a dawg.
No way in Haiti that James Cook is getting paid that kind of money in Buffalo and here’s why…
He’s a situational RB. He can’t pass block … he’s literally awful at it. They can’t have him in on passing plays unless he’s going out as a receiver.
He’s a great runner… all that stuff you said about his speed and vision and patience is true. But he’ll never be an every down back unless he puts on some serious weight which at this point isn’t likely to happen and even if he did, it would probably diminish the rest of his game.
There’s another scenario that you didn’t contemplate… Cook could try to hold out this year and attempt to force Buffalo’s hand to pay him…
With THIS offensive line, and with THIS quarterback… I don’t see a huge drop off at RB if Ray Davis and Ty Johnson are carrying the load.
Cook isn’t getting paid here… some desperate scrub team will give him a huge contract in “26 and we’ll get a comp pick for him and he’ll disappear behind a garbage O-line.
i love james cook. i hope he gets the money he deserves. i just don't think it is best for this team.
4 year 50 million extension… That's 5 years at 10 per …. I guarantee him first 3 years…. That's All I give…
I love what Jimbo brings to the team, and I would offer him a contract extension with a modest raise plus additional incentive clauses for production … BUT I would NOT pay the exorbitant amount he "wants" (demands ???) Reasons for reservation:
1. Teams need to have ability to run, BUT the RB position is simply NOT the feature in 2025 that it was in the NFL of 50 years ago
2. The Super Bowl clearly showed us how much we lack in terms of D-line (and O-line) strength if we want to get to elite status needed to compete for a Lombardi Trophy — we NEED $$$$$$ for line and other position upgrades, and I would not allow Cook's demands to compromise getting the players we need to upgrade to meet the ultimate goal
3. I definitely DO NOT LIKE this PUBLIC COERCION "his camp" is attempting; reminds me of the crap Stefon Diggs' brother pulled and the dissension it caused. It was our tight locker room and team unity that made the 2024 Bulls a truly SPECIAL team that OVERACHIEVED. This individual "I want mine" selfishness can tear this team apart. Josh Allen is "comparatively underpaid" compared to lesser QBs who make more, yet you don't hear him complaining. Get this resolved BEFORE training camp or trade him. RBs are almost a dime a dozen.
James cook is a top 7 RB in the league with one of the BEST o line in the league. 15 is obviously a negotiation tactic and he ain’t getting that. But his market (with no crazy desperate team making an outrageous move) isn’t gonna be more then 8-10 million in my opinion. He doesn’t even play half the snaps if he wants anywhere close to that he needs to show that he can pass block. Other teams know that too.