Cook getting the paid in a few weeks? Only the Bills can do so as Cook has another year left.

[Billsatlastin2018]

13 hours ago, Bills!Win! said:

Am I the only one that suspects that Cook is going to ramp it up another level in the playoffs? He looks like he’s running half speed and he’s still breaks long runs 

 

he will occasionally plow someone over too 

I was really unsold on Cookie, notwithstanding the Bulldog pedigree, until this season.

 

He has done EVERYTHING really well in 2024!

 

No doubt, he wants to Playoff excel to get his 💰 

[DCofNC]

11 hours ago, Ya Digg? said:

Boy the Giants certainly found this out the hard way, didn’t they? 

Not even CLOSE to the same situation.  Barkley carried that offense and they didn’t have a QB.  Cook hasn’t had to carry anything but the ball, when it’s his turn in the rotation.  He’s good, very good, but to mistake him as the guy that carries an O is silly.  The threat of Allen doesn’t let teams key on him, it’s the same reason Henry and Jackson are having a great year, you can’t stop both at once.  Difference is, take away Cook and you just plug in the next guy, take away Allen and the team collapses.

[Bangarang]

Never pay RBs big money. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

I'm firmly in the 'let him walk for a comp pick' camp. 

 

The week Cook was injured (1st Jets game) we didn't miss a beat with Davis as RB1. 20 carries for 97 yards and 3 catches for 55 yards. 

 

Now, if he wants to sign for a hefty discount (let's say 6mm per) I'd be fine keeping him. Not sure he'd want to sign for that little though 

[Warriorspikes51]

5 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

Never pay RBs big money. 

really?  the Ravens and Eagles did and it's worked out as well as possible 

This team with Henry and Cook would have been terrifying to defend.

I pounded the table for that and was laughed at by many.  Sigh 

Edited Friday at 03:42 PM by Warriorspikes51

[Jay_Fixit]

4 hours ago, Bangarang said:

Never pay RBs big money. 

Eh. Maybe long term. But if he's a good durable back, big money is fine.

 

I'd love for Cook to be paid big money. Mostly because it's not my money and I don't care.

[machine gun kelly]

I’m torn.  On one hand a three year deal would put him to 29, but he’s excellent.  The flip side is a tag and gets him to 27.  Most RB’s start tailing off by 27.  He’s borderline for me of an extension, but that’s an $8 mil. Extension, not more.  The tag option allows another 3rd round pick and just keep the room going.  We’ll need $ for more expensive options like extending GROOT, Benford, and so on.  These guys can keep giving contributions to this team.

[BillsFanForever19]

19 hours ago, Ya Digg? said:

He can get paid starting this offseason, that’s all. Big brother is just putting it out there that he should get paid, nothing more than that 

 

Could very well be. But the "in a few weeks" line is eyebrow raising. Makes me wonder if he knows that they're talking contract right now.

 

I know general smart thinking is you don't pay a Running Back. It's a line of thinking that I generally subscribe to. However, over this past year i've found myself thinking Cook is an exception. You can find a decent Running Back in the Draft if you have a good Offensive Line. But the things Cook does is not something you find easily. 

 

We spent years Drafting Running Backs like Devin Singletary and Zack Moss and signing inexpensive guys only to have an average to below average Running game. In Cook, we've found the most explosive RB and Running Game we've had since at least Marshawn Lynch (albeit a very different Back and running style). There are games that he takes over without Josh needing to do anything, or much of anything. This year's running game and Cook in particular is a large part of what has made our Offense the best it's ever looked this season. He was a Pro Bowler last season and was honestly robbed of the Pro Bowl this year.

 

If we can do an extension that is backloaded, keeps his number next season the same, has a couple low cap hit years in the beginning with bonuses, and an out after 2027 - i'd honestly be all for an extension for Cook. 

[L Ron Burgundy]

He seems like an introvert and it makes me think.  His choice will likely be to make big money for a few years to feature in another backfield or stay here for less money but in a comfortable situation that likely allows him a longer career.  Being a reserved guy, assuming that's true, maybe the 2nd option is more appealing?  

 

I hope thats the case but probably not.  Would love to keep him long term.  I thought he was a bad pick.  Now I think he's a beast.  Happy to be proven wrong here.

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

15 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/contracts/_/position/rb/sort/start_year/dir/desc

 

Some of the RBs who signed new contracts in 2024:

 

Name	Years	Average	Total Guaranted
Josh Jacobs	4	$12 million	$12 million
Christian McCaffrey	2	$19 million	$24 million
Saquon Barkley	3	$12.6 million	$26 million
Ramondre Stevenson	4	$9 million	$17 million
Chuba Hubbard	4	$8.3 million	$16.5 million
Joe Mixon	3	$8.5 million	$16 million
Alvin Kamara	2	$12.25 million	$19.2 million
DeAndre Swift	3	$8 million	$15.3 million
Tony Pollard	3	$7.25 million	$10.5 million
James Connor	2	$9.5 million	$8.25 million
David Montgomery	2	$9.125 million	$10.5 million

 

Also Derrick Henry: 2 years, $8 million average, total guaranteed $9 million

 

If you click on the link, the columns are sortable.

 

 

Pass catching RB's have greater value

[Dan]

Bills fans are cheap.   
 

I see a lot of comments about how TJ or RD can just step right in.   And they do, and perform extremely well.   But… how many times has either broken off a 40+ yd touchdown run?    Those kind of home run RBs that can score from anywhere on the field aren’t common.   We shouldn’t be in such a hurry to dismiss that aspect of our offense and Cook’s ability to change a game on any carry.  
 

I hope he’s given an extension here, when appropriate.  And I hope he doesn’t just chase the highest offer because there’s always someone willing to overpay.   I have full confidence Beane will look at his value and abilities and make him a fair offer based on the that.  And that it will be higher the an half this board would like.   But then again half this board thought he overspent for Spencer and Knox and Oliver and anyone not names Josh. 

[Buffalo ill]

This team is paying a ton of money to Diggs, Miller, and Milano for what? Now forum cap experts  don't want to keep a guy who is a big contributor.

 

Cook is the first rb they have had in forever that is a threat to go to the house from anywhere on the field.  I see no issue giving him a fair market value contract.  If he wants to be the highest paid rb in the league, he can walk.

[L Ron Burgundy]

22 minutes ago, Dan said:

Bills fans are cheap.   
 

I see a lot of comments about how TJ or RD can just step right in.   And they do, and perform extremely well.   But… how many times has either broken off a 40+ yd touchdown run?    Those kind of home run RBs that can score from anywhere on the field aren’t common.   We shouldn’t be in such a hurry to dismiss that aspect of our offense and Cook’s ability to change a game on any carry.  
 

I hope he’s given an extension here, when appropriate.  And I hope he doesn’t just chase the highest offer because there’s always someone willing to overpay.   I have full confidence Beane will look at his value and abilities and make him a fair offer based on the that.  And that it will be higher the an half this board would like.   But then again half this board thought he overspent for Spencer and Knox and Oliver and anyone not names Josh. 

This.   We shouldn't break the bank but we shouldn't have to.   We can afford a decent contract for a quality weapon. 

 

He's improved so much, he could keep improving. 

Edited Friday at 10:28 PM by L Ron Burgundy

[mjt328]

I've been one of those guys totally against drafting RBs high or paying them big money Free Agent contracts.

But maybe it's time to reconsider...

 

The NFL goes through cycles, and it's clearly starting to shift back into RBs becoming more important again.  It could be argued that Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry were the two most important signings in the entire offseason.  Most people on this board are deathly afraid of facing the Ravens in the playoffs, because of the strength of their running game.  Look what trading for Christian McAffrey did for the 49ers a couple years ago, and how bad it hurt them when he missed half the year.  Super Bowl vs. totally missing the playoffs.

 

The Lions two-headed RB monster is a major reason they were the #1 offense in football this year.  And having an effective running game (led by James Cook) has been a huge part in taking our offense to the next level... the best we've had during the Josh Allen era.

 

[RyanC883]

8m a year okay, but would rather target a WR or DT fa than overpay at RB.   

Edited Friday at 11:04 PM by RyanC883

[Warriorspikes51]

51 minutes ago, Buffalo ill said:

This team is paying a ton of money to Diggs, Miller, and Milano for what? Now forum cap experts  don't want to keep a guy who is a big contributor.

 

Cook is the first rb they have had in forever that is a threat to go to the house from anywhere on the field.  I see no issue giving him a fair market value contract.  If he wants to be the highest paid rb in the league, he can walk.

 

The Bills don't owe Diggs any more $ after this season 

[BillsClinton]

Yeah I really don't think it's a stretch to see Cook getting $12m+ a year from the Bills in an Alvin Kamara-type contract. And honestly they should pay? The difference between is $8m (what most consider the max to pay) and $12m is $4m. How likely would that $4m be better spent if not on an elite back in the NFL?  For reference we paid OJ Howard $3.5m to cut him. 

Pay the man!

[JimBob2232]

21 hours ago, BillsFan130 said:

Ya fair- I wouldn't be totally against it if The price is right .

 

But unless its someone like Saquon, I'm usually not a believer in paying RBs big dollars 

 

Most of you were not in favor of paying Saquan a couple (or just one) years ago.  Dude has always been special.  The problem is that the Giants are a different type of special...

[Doc Brown]

7 hours ago, DCofNC said:

Not even CLOSE to the same situation.  Barkley carried that offense and they didn’t have a QB.  Cook hasn’t had to carry anything but the ball, when it’s his turn in the rotation.  He’s good, very good, but to mistake him as the guy that carries an O is silly.  The threat of Allen doesn’t let teams key on him, it’s the same reason Henry and Jackson are having a great year, you can’t stop both at once.  Difference is, take away Cook and you just plug in the next guy, take away Allen and the team collapses.

He carried the offense to 30th best in the league in 2023 with a whopping 3.9 ypc?  They're 31st this year without him so I guess he sort of helped.

[Sharky7337]

Some of these takes really surprise me.

 

Cook is not a complete back. At least not right now. Therefore I would not pay him complete back money.

 

He's more like a budget mans kamara with bad hands.

 

Over 9 million I pass. Yes he can be explosive, and he's a good player.

 

He's no Saquon, Jacobs, or Henry.

Edited Friday at 11:26 PM by Sharky7337