James Cook- special 2024 season

[Doc Brown]

48 minutes ago, DrW said:

It is interesting to note that when James Cook was drafted, it was always mentioned that he was the younger brother of Dalvin Cook. Dalvin was the more distinguished player in college, but his career in the NFL is characterized by frequent changes of teams (IIRC, at the moment he is on the Cowboy's PS). When healthy, he seems to be a rather competent RB, but there has not been a single season where he was not injured.

He tore his ACL his rookie year and really broke out as a premier runner his third year.  He threatened to hold out going into his fourth season and Minnesota extended him.  I could easily seeing James Cook taking the same approach this off-season.  He doesn't have the wear and tear his brother did or the injury history so it's pry less risky of an extension.  It's more a question of do the Bills feel they think paying him is a good allocation of cap money.

[Doc Brown]

6 minutes ago, Neo said:

To save a few dollars and to allocate a few dollars elsewhere are different concepts, I believe.

 

PS … I voted “yes” to a trade for a day two pick months ago.  I was terribly wrong.

I thought that question was a year too early.  If he threatens to hold out and some team offers you a day two pick you take it this off-season.  Ideally, you get the pick for the 2025 draft and not the 2026 one.

[mikemac2001]

10 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

He tore his ACL his rookie year and really broke out as a premier runner his third year.  He threatened to hold out going into his fourth season and Minnesota extended him.  I could easily seeing James Cook taking the same approach this off-season.  He doesn't have the wear and tear his brother did or the injury history so it's pry less risky of an extension.  It's more a question of do the Bills feel they think paying him is a good allocation of cap money.

I think he should get a 2nd contract problem is he might want top RB money but I think you can justify it for his big plays.

 

he’s probably our best weapon and how many breakaway TDs does he have?

 

maybe a deal we can get out of it after two seasons but he still gets paid.

 

i would work with him on a fair extension but if he wants to play hardball hold out then i think you go to the 4 year then franchise option and move him in trade during that time frame. 
 

I think we will have cap and options so as long as both sides win I think they can get it done 

[Dan Darragh]

5 hours ago, folz said:

Cook is the first Bills RB with 40+ yard TD runs in consecutive games since Mike Gillislee in 2015.

Too lazy to start another thread but I think Mike Gillislee should be in Canton.

[SoMAn]

8 hours ago, Real McClappy said:

Guys sucks, he only averaged 9 yards a carry this week.

 

We should just straight run him 20-30 times and see if he can pop off 3 in a game like his brother used to.

 

Merry Christmas TBD die hard fans.

 

 

Word

[GunnerBill]

2 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

I thought that question was a year too early.  If he threatens to hold out and some team offers you a day two pick you take it this off-season.  Ideally, you get the pick for the 2025 draft and not the 2026 one.

 

Was exactly my view then and now. If Cook wants to hold out and someone offers me a 2nd or a pick in the top half dozen of this year's 3rd round then I'd take it. If he isn't holding out it would take a pick in the first half of round 2 or better to trade my cheap final year of him. 

[DCofNC]

9 hours ago, MasterStrategist said:

Maybe it's been talked about, but he has a chance of achieving some special single season feats in Bills history:

 

1. Rushing TDs: currently at 14, if I'm not mistaken OJ holds our record at 17

 

2. Rushing+Receiving TDs: OJ had 23 in '75 (his unreal yr), but James might be only our 2nd player to hit 20+ in 1 year? Currently at 16.

 

For a player who caught grief early in his career, this was a gem of a pick by Beane.  Cook has taken another leap since LY, and flourishes in Bradys offense.  Has a 2nd gear second to maybe Saquon in open field.  His vision, strength, and ability to create yardage after contact has been next level in 2024.

 

For some who were expecting Ray Davis to being splitting carries (or even our 1a) by now, Cook proved those doubters wrong.  Not gonna dig up that offseason thread, but too many dismissed how special Jimbo can be.

 

I think most will agree this is our best RB room in a long while.  More importantly, this has completely balanced and made our offense more dangerous without a stud Wr1. 

 

I'm too lazy to look, but as an offense, we might be close to breaking a team rushing TD record as well.  Kudos to oline as well.

Hi, it was me, I said Davis would take his job.  I’d like the credit for properly motivating Cook 😜.  Seriously though, I did say it and I was dead wrong.  Davis is very good in his own right and I do think he and Johnson could shoulder the work load, BUT Cook has been outstanding this year.   His explosion has been great and his strength has definitely improved, he’s good for tough yards and a threat to take it to the house.  He’s turned into a really good all around back, big props to him.

2 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

I thought that question was a year too early.  If he threatens to hold out and some team offers you a day two pick you take it this off-season.  Ideally, you get the pick for the 2025 draft and not the 2026 one.

I hate to say it, he’s been great, but if you can get a higher pick for him (doubtful), you should take it and run.  History says it’s pretty much never a good idea to pay a RB.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

He's turned himself in a tough RB in addition to being a shifty and fast one, which means that aside from goal line carries he's the entire package.  He's been punishing linebackers and safeties on inside runs and plows ahead on the sideline instead of just going OOB.  I'm fine giving him a 3 year extension.

[NeverOutNick]

9 hours ago, MasterStrategist said:

Maybe it's been talked about, but he has a chance of achieving some special single season feats in Bills history:

 

1. Rushing TDs: currently at 14, if I'm not mistaken OJ holds our record at 17

 

2. Rushing+Receiving TDs: OJ had 23 in '75 (his unreal yr), but James might be only our 2nd player to hit 20+ in 1 year? Currently at 16.

 

For a player who caught grief early in his career, this was a gem of a pick by Beane.  Cook has taken another leap since LY, and flourishes in Bradys offense.  Has a 2nd gear second to maybe Saquon in open field.  His vision, strength, and ability to create yardage after contact has been next level in 2024.

 

For some who were expecting Ray Davis to being splitting carries (or even our 1a) by now, Cook proved those doubters wrong.  Not gonna dig up that offseason thread, but too many dismissed how special Jimbo can be.

 

I think most will agree this is our best RB room in a long while.  More importantly, this has completely balanced and made our offense more dangerous without a stud Wr1. 

 

I'm too lazy to look, but as an offense, we might be close to breaking a team rushing TD record as well.  Kudos to oline as well.

I’m in the Christmas spirit so I’ll confess I was a hater on Cook. I didn’t like how he had no dog in him and fell down after first contact but man this year he’s a beast! Love our RB room

[GunnerBill]

Just now, NeverOutNick said:

I’m in the Christmas spirit so I’ll confess I was a hater on Cook. I didn’t like how he had no dog in him and fell down after first contact but man this year he’s a beast! Love our RB room

 

All the people who were down on him have a stylistic preference for a bigger, bruiser, type of back. A 3rd and 1 back. But the Bills aren't gonna be a big 3rd and 1 running back run team while Josh Allen is almost automatic in that spot. Given our passing attack is more methodical than explosive I think the value having a big play threat at running back gives this team over a volume / grinder back like a Josh Jacobs for example is significant. 

[Nephilim17]

Play him till the last day of his contract and draft a similar player. Invest the money in the O-line and D-line to get difference makers there. Or use that money for a dominant outside WR. Much harder to draft a game-wrecking end than a shifty back with good vision.

Remember Shaun Alexander? In 2005 he was on fire. Crazy stats:
 

Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards, breaking the Seahawks' franchise record. He also led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. 

Total touchdowns Alexander set an NFL record with 28 total touchdowns. 

Next season, he had half of those rushing yards. Three years after his record-breaking season he was finished. 

With a dominant O-line other backs can have great success with the Bills.

[Ga boy]

3 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

He tore his ACL his rookie year and really broke out as a premier runner his third year.  He threatened to hold out going into his fourth season and Minnesota extended him.  I could easily seeing James Cook taking the same approach this off-season.  He doesn't have the wear and tear his brother did or the injury history so it's pry less risky of an extension.  It's more a question of do the Bills feel they think paying him is a good allocation of cap money.

I’ve been wrong a bunch (Losman, Manuel, Edmunds) but from draft day I was right about Cook.  He was underused at UGA but his flashes were Kamara-like.  Shady had more wiggle but Cook gets through the hole as fast as anyone then he’s vapor.  IF the Bills get the Lombardi, Cook will be a big reason … so you’ll have to sign him.  That’s a big IF.  IF so, we would’ve proven we don’t need to expend big bucks at WR.  Keep Cook, then get a DE and DT in the draft.  Merry Christmas to all 🎄🦬

[GunnerBill]

6 minutes ago, Ga boy said:

 Cook gets through the hole as fast as anyone then he’s vapor.  

 

Yep he has really excellent vision and you are right he goes through the hole so fast. If you don't have the perfect angle you are not going to be able to stop him because he accelerates too quickly to be stopped by an arm tackle. 

[Ga boy]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yep he has really excellent vision and you are right he goes through the hole so fast. If you don't have the perfect angle you are not going to be able to stop him because he accelerates too quickly to be stopped by an arm tackle. 

I saw Primetime Deion catch Beebe in ATL, but not #4.

[finn]

4 hours ago, DrW said:

It is interesting to note that when James Cook was drafted, it was always mentioned that he was the younger brother of Dalvin Cook. Dalvin was the more distinguished player in college, but his career in the NFL is characterized by frequent changes of teams (IIRC, at the moment he is on the Cowboy's PS). When healthy, he seems to be a rather competent RB, but there has not been a single season where he was not injured.

Throughout James' rookie year and even into his second year, he was routinely introduced as Dalvin's younger brother. And I notice that's not the case anymore. The arrow on this guy is still up. Speed, vision, toughness, moves, he has the whole package. Even without exceptional size, he's been durable. I love how he outruns safeties and sometimes cornerbacks. Fast, fluid, even graceful. And he's not dropping balls or fumbling anymore. 

 

Yes, re-sign him. He's still only 25, very likely with his best years ahead of him. One more contract, no more than three years. Allen, the same elite O-line, and the same running back trio. Add just one big-time receiver, and the Bills will be even better on offense next year, which is saying something. 

[Andrew Son]

1 minute ago, Ga boy said:

I saw Primetime Deion catch Beebe in ATL, but not #4.

Cook doesn't really have elite long speed.  But he gets up to that speed very quickly

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, Andrew Son said:

Cook doesn't really have elite long speed.  But he gets up to that speed very quickly

 

Yea its his acceleration that is elite. He is fast in long speed but not special fast.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

32 minutes ago, Nephilim17 said:

Play him till the last day of his contract and draft a similar player. Invest the money in the O-line and D-line to get difference makers there. Or use that money for a dominant outside WR. Much harder to draft a game-wrecking end than a shifty back with good vision.

Remember Shaun Alexander? In 2005 he was on fire. Crazy stats:
 

Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards, breaking the Seahawks' franchise record. He also led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. 

Total touchdowns Alexander set an NFL record with 28 total touchdowns. 

Next season, he had half of those rushing yards. Three years after his record-breaking season he was finished. 

With a dominant O-line other backs can have great success with the Bills.

Counterpoint, it’s 20 years later and the very best RBs are playing on 2nd or 3rd contracts.  Saquon, Henry, Jacobs, Mixon.

[Ga boy]

1 minute ago, Andrew Son said:

Cook doesn't really have elite long speed.  But he gets up to that speed very quickly

True but I haven’t seen anyone run him down.  The 40 speed is overblown especially for RBs.  For the first 10, and 5 steps, I don’t think anyone bursts like Cook.  

1 minute ago, Ga boy said:

True but I haven’t seen anyone run him down.  The 40 speed is overblown especially for RBs.  For the first 10, and 5 steps, I don’t think anyone bursts like Cook.  

If he’s 3 steps ahead, a 4.2 guy isn’t catching him on a 30-40 yarder, maybe 50+ yarder.  He’s gonna have a couple more break aways.

[boater]

I can't believe he will be an FA already, I remember the day he was drafted. They grow up so fast.

 

I'd give him a two year contract, but he will find better on the open market. He's as good as gone.