Lots of unfounded speculation here. The fact is we have no idea what Cook was offered by the Bills, nor what his real number is, or what the nature of their discussions with his agent were. We only know they are not close to a deal. Would the Bills pay $12 m as you suggest? (Or even the Palmer contract which is reality is nothing like the $36m reported) Perhaps. Will Cook settle for less than $15 m which is way over his real value? Who knows. The bills did the right thing in putting this back on him it seems to me. If he wants out, good riddance. If he wants to play for the Bills, I am sure there is a deal to be made, but he is not getting $15m per year from them or anything close, nor should he.
As for lack of explosive wide receivers to make his job easier as you suggest, he has one of the best Offensive Lines in the NFL to make his job easier. He has Josh Allen whose presence on the field makes Cook’s job immeasurably easier.