Bills' 'Biggest Offseason Priority' Not An Easy Fix with James Cook
Bills' 'Biggest Offseason Priority' Not An Easy Fix with James Cook originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Much like Thanos needing the Mind Stone to complete his Infinity Gauntlet in Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War, the Buffalo Bills' offseason is close to being complete...except for one thing.
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Running back James Cook is still awaiting a new contract, and all indicators point to the Pro Bowler having to wait until next offseason to get the new deal he craves.
Set to play on the final year of his rookie deal, Cook is the only Bills player not present for OTAs, which isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it could be a precursor for what could be coming down the pipeline when training camp begins.
And for NFL.com's Kevin Patra, the Bills' biggest offseason priority is getting Cook a new deal.
"Buffalo might prefer a committee, but Cook brings a tackle-breaking, elusive element to the table -- even if the coaching staff seems to forget about him for stretches," Patra writes. "Cook is the only Bill skipping voluntary OTAs. GM Brandon Beane has said he expects Cook to be there when it counts. That's easy to say before summer break. What comes of it in training camp will be revealing for a player who seeks long-term security after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons."
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
At the time of writing, the Bills, per Over The Cap, have the least amount of cap space in the NFL, with just $1.6 million, so for a Cook contract that is expected to be in the region of $15 million APY, some serious cap massaging would need to take place from general manager Brandon Beane.
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Buffalo's offseason has seen the franchise address its pass rush situation, acquire Josh Allen another weapon in Joshua Palmer, and secure several key players to new deals.
But until Cook gets his new contract, the Bills' offensive gauntlet won't be complete.
Thanos completed his. Can the Bills complete theirs?
Related: Bills' Sean McDermott Speaks Out On Tush Push
Related: Bills New Receiver Standing Out In OTAs
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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