Eagles reset RB market, extend Barkley.

[Steptide]

Bro is turning into Diggs 😅 I kid I kid 😒

[Buffalo_Stampede]

23 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

See to me, you should never pay a running back unless they are Saquon level special. The idea of drafting one in the mid rounds every year and just churning through these guys prime years then casting them aside makes a ton of sense to me. Davis was like a 25 year old rookie. Literally plugging an older polished dude in there until he is 29-30 and never paying him is pretty shrewd. 

Ray Davis is not as explosive as Cook. You’ll be losing something we don’t have anywhere else on offense. 
 

If you’re looking for a RB that just gets the job done, that’s easy to find. Finding the explosive RB like what Cook was giving us is not easy to replace.

[MasterStrategist]

Alot of crazy takes in here.

 

James Cook is our best offensive weapon, not named Josh Allen...thats a fact.

 

Not to mention he's continued to improve, and there's still more room.

 

Just ridiculous opinions on his "value".  Ray Davis isn't near the player Cook is.  There are probably 2-3 other RBs who get that 4th down TD vs KC.

 

We finally found a special player at RB, and most here would be happy if he's traded this offseason.

 

Beane can easily afford $12m+, even $15m.  The difference 12 vs 15, is easily made up with more prudent "depth" signings.  You don't let a premier talent go, you also don't give in to crazy demands either.  I'm hopeful they'll get Cook extended, his emergence has been the primary reason our lack of explosive plays haven't haunted us more.

[Chicken Boo]

3 hours ago, uticaclub said:

Singletary got a one year deal with Houston and is now a backup with the Giants

 

Hey, remember when this board used to reference Singletary's 4.5 ypc to suggest Barkley wouldn't be a huge upgrade or difference maker?

 

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

[MrEpsYtown]

48 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Ray Davis is not as explosive as Cook. You’ll be losing something we don’t have anywhere else on offense. 
 

If you’re looking for a RB that just gets the job done, that’s easy to find. Finding the explosive RB like what Cook was giving us is not easy to replace.

Yeah I would agree. But I could see them finding a Cook-like dude this year and letting him walk next season. I love Cook, and as good as he has been, I just don’t see them paying a RB.

Edited 16 hours ago by MrEpsYtown

[Buffalo_Stampede]

24 minutes ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

Hey, remember when this board used to reference Singletary's 4.5 ypc to suggest Barkley wouldn't be a huge upgrade or difference maker?

 

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

I always feel like what separates RBs is the ability to turn 5 yards into 50 yards. 
 

A lot RB stats can look equal, but the explosive ability is what separates them. 
 

Cook was housing carries. That can’t be understated. It’s not easy to find.

[MrEpsYtown]

59 minutes ago, MasterStrategist said:

Alot of crazy takes in here.

 

James Cook is our best offensive weapon, not named Josh Allen...thats a fact.

 

Not to mention he's continued to improve, and there's still more room.

 

Just ridiculous opinions on his "value".  Ray Davis isn't near the player Cook is.  There are probably 2-3 other RBs who get that 4th down TD vs KC.

 

We finally found a special player at RB, and most here would be happy if he's traded this offseason.

 

Beane can easily afford $12m+, even $15m.  The difference 12 vs 15, is easily made up with more prudent "depth" signings.  You don't let a premier talent go, you also don't give in to crazy demands either.  I'm hopeful they'll get Cook extended, his emergence has been the primary reason our lack of explosive plays haven't haunted us more.

Yeah I love the guy. But you will extend him at 27 years old, not a crazy amount of tread on the guy, so he should be productive. But this all just happened with his brother, who arguably had a better career up this point in his tenure. Held out, wanted a big contract, got it and lasted two years. Guy is 29 years old and out of the league. It’s just a  terrible investment to make. History of running back says it and his own flesh and blood says it as well. Maybe franchise James Cook for a year or two and go from there. 
 

Davis isn’t the same guy, but when Cook was out Davis was very productive. Yards and points are just that, I don’t think it matters how they come about. 

[Big Turk]

4 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Spent 3 2nd-3rd round picks on RBs to finally feel good about RB.
 

I don’t believe in spending a lot of assets on a RB but I’m evaluating the offense and personnel. Signing Cook makes sense.

But yes, I need him to be an every down RB moving forward. 
 

 

 

 

Most teams don't use every down backs anymore. That's not how the game is played. It's not 1987 where every team has a player with 300+ carries.

Edited 15 hours ago by Big Turk

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Just now, Big Turk said:

 

Most teams don't use every down backs anymore. That's not how the game is played. It's not 1987 where every team has a player with 300+ carries.

If you’re paying a RB top 5 money they will have to be a 300 touch RB. Maybe only Kamara is the exception.

[Doc Brown]

4 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Josh had to get rid of it but I believe Samuel was his read anyway. Cook and Ty were rotating in and out the final drive. 
 

His touches did drop in year 3. Obviously if the Bills don’t view him as a 3 down RB they won’t sign him. But facts are they drafted him to play on 3rd downs and develop into an early down RB. So I believe they believe he can be an every down RB.

 

I'll let some other team make that bet as I doubt the Bills give him that role this season.  Protecting Allen should be the priority. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Just now, Doc Brown said:

I'll let some other team make that bet as I doubt the Bills give him that role this season.  Protecting Allen should be the priority. 

Honestly i will have to spend some time watching him pass protect in 2024. I never really thought about it much during the season. Maybe someone already broke it down. The amount of people that are ok letting the most explosive player on offense go because of pass protection he must be the worst in the league. 

[Low Positive]

6 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Honestly i will have to spend some time watching him pass protect in 2024. I never really thought about it much during the season. Maybe someone already broke it down. The amount of people that are ok letting the most explosive player on offense go because of pass protection he must be the worst in the league. 

He's not. Ty Johnson was just so good at it that Cook got subbed out on third down. 

[HappyDays]

4 hours ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

The league is transitioning back to a run first, big uglies on the line game.

 

This idea is getting a bit overstated. Running the ball has become easier since defenses have adjusted to stop the bombs away air shows that teams like the Bills and Chiefs were showing in 2020. But you still need a balanced offense led by a strong passing game, not a "run first" offense. Barkley himself is evidence of this - he went from playing with Daniel Jones and a cast of JAGs to playing with a good QB and an elite OL and an elite WR duo. Only then did he start producing at his current level. The passing offense still has to lead the way and the market is reflecting this. Barkley's historic market-resetting AAV would rank just 18th among WRs. He falls just below the likes of Terry McLaurin and Calvin Ridley whose contracts are already obsolete. The league hasn't flipped on its head.

 

Edited 12 hours ago by HappyDays

[ganesh]

10 hours ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

There are James Cook equivalents in the draft almost every year.  There are no equivalents for Barkley currently in the league nor in the draft this year.  Paying Barkley money to lesser players is a fools errand.  As much as I like James Cook, the Bills should either sign him to a reasonable contract or tag him for 2026 and draft his replacement.

Barkley was a top-5 pick...Cook was picked at the top of the 2nd round.  Why are we even comparing the two of them, especially considering their style of play is so different. 

 

Cook is a critical part of the Bills offense and so is Barkley for the Eagles...

[Neo]

15 hours ago, Magox said:

I made this case multiple times that Running backs are undervalued and you will see those valuations increased.  Many disagreed.

 

They were wrong.

 

 

 

Well, he’s the highest paid running back in history and just got paid like the 20th highest wide receiver.   I think this sustains the current value view of the two positions rather than alters it.  Everything goes up.

 

 

[Bill from NYC]

Very smart move by a very smart GM.

 

Barkley is on a team chock full of GREAT receivers, all of whom draw defenders away for the LOS. Barkley is such a sensenational back that he draws coverage away from the receiving corps. Now, add in the fact that they have the best OL in the NFL and you have a scoring machine, this with a very good, but non-superstar quarterback. The OL is SO good that on one 'tush push" play, OG Landon Dickerson pushed three yards beyond scrimage for an easy TD against the Chiefs.

 

The deal is only for two years and most likely won't be renewed. Normally I would not like giving this kind of contract to a running back. In this case I can't find any fault in doing so. 

[Big Turk]

9 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

If you’re paying a RB top 5 money they will have to be a 300 touch RB. Maybe only Kamara is the exception.

 

Cook is 3rd in the NFL in yards per carry since he entered the NFL(min 300 carries) and 2nd in yards per reception(min 40 catches) for all RBs.  Those are elite per touch numbers and I think justifiable for getting paid.  What difference does it make if a guy has to have 80 more carries and 30 more receptions to get the same numbers? Effectively you are putting more tread on the tires and having more opportunities for injuries for worse production.

Edited 5 hours ago by Big Turk

[Buffalo_Stampede]

25 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Cook is 3rd in the NFL in yards per carry since he entered the NFL(min 300 carries) and 2nd in yards per reception(min 40 catches) for all RBs.  Those are elite per touch numbers and I think justifiable for getting paid.  What difference does it make if a guy has to have 80 more carries and 30 more receptions to get the same numbers? Effectively you are putting more tread on the tires and having more opportunities for injuries for worse production.

Because you’ll need a specialist for 3rd down. 
 

 

[Big Turk]

55 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Because you’ll need a specialist for 3rd down. 
 

 

 

And?  

[Buffalo_Stampede]

2 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

And?  

So you’re arguing to pay James Cook and sign a 3rd down specialist?