Do Bills Actually Need James Cook For Super Bowl Run?
Do Bills Actually Need James Cook For Super Bowl Run? originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has been one of the more consistent players at his position over the last few seasons.
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He has recorded over 1,000 yards rushing in back-to-back years, and even led the league in touchdowns on the ground in 2024. Since being drafted in the second round by the Bills, Cook has shown to be a very serviceable star for their offense.
Now comes the tricky part.
Cook is entering the final year of his contract with the Bills and has sat out of offseason workouts as a way to push the team to negotiate. That has yet to happen.
Cook's contract situation is complex. He has consistently pushed for a new deal that would pay him an average of $15 million since the offseason began. Buffalo, with under $5 million in cap space to their name, doesn't have that kind of money to give to a position of lesser value.
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Buffalo has a strong collection of running backs behind Cook. Players like second-year runner Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, and Darrynton Evans all bring something unique to Buffalo's backfield.
Add in the league MVP Josh Allen with his athleticism, and the Bills should still be able to compete for a Super Bowl even without Cook in for certain games and practices.
That is the reality of the situation. While Cook is a very good running back, he doesn't have the kind of talent that a Christian McCaffrey or a Saquon Barkley have for their respective teams.
And if a team doesn't have a player like Barkley or McCaffrey in the backfield, then they shouldn't re-sign their current runner to a lucrative deal.
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It seems like that is exactly what Buffalo is arguing as well.
Related: Bills' 'Storm Cloud' Threatening To Derail 2025 Season
Related: Bills See History Repeat Itself In 'Nightmare' Season Scenario
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
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