Now will they still extend Benford or Cook?

[SCBills]

Steelers look to be in win-now mode.

 

If Pickens isn't long term (Roethslisberger speculating he may or may not be on McAfee).. I'd offer a deal based around Cook for Pickens.

 

Cook and Warren would be a legit backfield that works well together. 

[Rocky Landing]

6 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

Just because he's advocating for himself on social media doesn't mean he isn't a good teammate/person etc...  McDermott went out of his way to compliment Cook for the work he put in to get better.  I only see downside to using social media when it comes to contract negotiations but it's not egregious enough of "engaging in behavior that I don't believe Beane or McD will tolerate."  How dare he stop following the Buffalo Bills on Instagram.   Hell, if he gives us Diggs like production for four years if we extend him he can send all the cryptic tweets he wants.  He seems like a quiet guy though so once he gets his money he should stop all the social media nonsense.

I know it's not an apples to apples comparison to Diggs. And I'm not suggesting he's some kind of locker room cancer. Perhaps "teammate" was the wrong word for me to use. I'm sure players advocate for themselves all the time, but at OBD, it's done behind closed doors. I honestly believe that's the way Beane/McD prefer it. But Cook, regardless of how flexible it may be, seems to have publicly drawn a line in the sand. One would expect that isn't out of the blue, but comes on the heels of conversations they've already had. And if Cook's "$15M" post was done without provocation, it's a bit of a blindside.

[papazoid]

benford before cook

[Thurman#1]

4 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

 

I disagree obviously, and think it is a near certainty that the Barkley contract changed the game for Cook, the Bills, and the other elite running backs in the league.

 

An historically big contract does that almost every time, wouldn't you agree?

 

But, we will soon find out which is the right take, as the Bills should show their cards soon, and  make their decision. Cook may get close to 12 for the first year, but then it is going higher each year, and likely tops off at 15 million soon.  And hopefully with good incentives, like Barkley has.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haven't the slightest doubt that Cook's agents will have your exact same POV on this matter. 

 

But the teams will say, "did you run for 2000 yards? No? Fair enough, but somewhere close, right? No? Well, then why should I give you anything close? Yeah he got production at a historic level. You very much did not."

 

If the contract you suggest here is what Cook demands, my guess is he'll have to find another team to give it to him, and it won't be as easy for him as he thinks.

 

If that historic Barkley contract did change things, my guess is it might possibly change Cook's possibilities from around $10M to around, maybe, $12M. Cook doesn't compare to Barkley, he just doesn't. Again, the only guys above about $12M are workhorse backs. Cook is not that guy. He's a guy you need to supplement with a 3rd down back and a short yardage guy.

[machine gun kelly]

Benford if they can swing it.  We have 2 years left on Cook, if next year they tag him.  Then moving on as he doesn’t block nor play a lot on special teams.  $15 mil. reminds me of Dr. Evil wanting a bajillion Jillian $.  Dr. Evil, it’s 1969.  That $ doesn’t even exist.

[LABILLBACKER]

19 hours ago, Special K said:

It looks like a holdout is coming if Cook does not get extended......so I doubt he will happily "play out" the final year of his contract.

 

I am not sure if the Bills should extend Cook or not, but it seems to be trending toward "Cook gets extension, or Cook becomes a distraction" territory, IMO.

Yes and unfortunately this might play out too.  I'm leary of paying Jimbo 15M but it is ironic we just signed today a WR for 12M/ yr who had 1 td last season.  Compared to Cook's 18 TD's.   Beane will figure it out.

[Wizard]

The problem with the Hoect and Palmer signings is very simple.

 

Would you rather have Cook for 4 years or Hoect and Palmer? Cook would cost the same if not a little less than these two.

 

Would you prefer resigning Benford for 3 years or have these two guys?

 

Benford and Cook are above average players at their positions. Cook is or can be a difference maker in a few games each season.

 

We need difference-makers, Beane!!! A #4/#5 receiver and a rotating off-the-bench DE who plays 30% of defensive snaps does not make a difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gonzo1105]

Who’s saying they’re not working on Benford and Cook? They can do all of the above if they want 

[Low Positive]

3 minutes ago, Wizard said:

The problem with the Hoect and Palmer signings is very simple.

 

Would you rather have Cook for 4 years or Hoect and Palmer? Cook would cost the same if not a little less than these two.

 

Would you prefer resigning Benford for 3 years or have these two guys?

 

Benford and Cook are above average players at their positions. Cook is or can be a difference maker in a few games each season.

 

We need difference-makers, Beane!!! A #4/#5 receiver and a rotating off-the-bench DE who plays 30% of defensive snaps does not make a difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree, but today is about signing UFAs. Cook and Benford will get done soon enough, I am sure of it. 

[harmonkillebrew]

Or how about Sweat or Metcalf?

We just dropped $60M on depth guys. Could have maybe used that for an impact starter.... maybe?

[MasterStrategist]

7 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

Benford if they can swing it.  We have 2 years left on Cook, if next year they tag him.  Then moving on as he doesn’t block nor play a lot on special teams.  $15 mil. reminds me of Dr. Evil wanting a bajillion Jillian $.  Dr. Evil, it’s 1969.  That $ doesn’t even exist.

Ummm, are we going back in time?  Cook rookie contract expires after 2025.

[Victory Formation]

Is Benford worth $20M+ a year?

[MasterStrategist]

Cook and Benford taking the longest, simply because they are the best talents we have on either side of ball (aside from Allen).

 

They will be premier FAs next year, if it gets that far, and will far outplay their 2025 salary.

 

If Beane is true to draft/develop/retain premier talent, these guys will be signed to extensions. Yes two sides have to agree- but we saw what happened when Benford went down vs KC.  Cook is a legit homerun threat at RB, and both these guys are young and still ascending.

 

7 minutes ago, Victory Formation said:

Is Benford worth $20M+ a year?

Yes.  It'd be a great deal to lock him up at $20m per

[Victory Formation]

2 minutes ago, MasterStrategist said:

Yes.  It'd be a great deal to lock him up at $20m per

I think the franchise tag for CBs is about $20M. I’m kind of on the fence when it comes to Benford. 1.) I think you build through the trenches and 2.) Our defense is a very CB friendly system. I think you let Benford play out this year on his rookie deal and you either extend him or tag him at the end of the year..

[ColoradoBills]

Cook is under a rookie contract to play this year.

I don't think he will "hold out".  It hurts him way more than it would the Bills.

 

Beane and his boys have to have a clue as to what Cook and his agent are thinking.

They could also let him know they want a new contract, but they won't tag him next year.

If they have any real concerns that he would hold out, draft another RB and re-sign Johnson for what he wants.

[Joe Marino]

All signs point to no

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

Would you rather go into the season without your CB1 or RB1?
 

I think that’s a pretty easy answer unless you have Saquon, Henry, or McCaffrey. Benford means more to the Bills than Cook. Ray Davis and Ty Johnson are more than capable of carrying the load if push comes to shove. Do people really want to see more of Elam? 

[Jrb1979]

4 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Would you rather go into the season without your CB1 or RB1?
 

I think that’s a pretty easy answer unless you have Saquon, Henry, or McCaffrey. Benford means more to the Bills than Cook. Ray Davis and Ty Johnson are more than capable of carrying the load if push comes to shove. Do people really want to see more of Elam? 

Or how about spend some money in free agency like other teams did. 

[machine gun kelly]

7 hours ago, MasterStrategist said:

Ummm, are we going back in time?  Cook rookie contract expires after 2025.

No, MS, the team has the option after the 2025 season to tag him at $13 mil. for 2026.  That’s the current rate for RB tags.

[Thurman#1]

9 hours ago, Wizard said:

The problem with the Hoect and Palmer signings is very simple.

 

Would you rather have Cook for 4 years or Hoect and Palmer? Cook would cost the same if not a little less than these two.

 

Would you prefer resigning Benford for 3 years or have these two guys?

 

Benford and Cook are above average players at their positions. Cook is or can be a difference maker in a few games each season.

 

We need difference-makers, Beane!!! A #4/#5 receiver and a rotating off-the-bench DE who plays 30% of defensive snaps does not make a difference.

 

 

 

This would be a good point if the only money left was this money. But that ain't so.

 

They could still sign Cook or Benford, maybe even both, having already signed Hoecht and Palmer. Hell, having signed these two, Benford and Cook WILL be on the roster in 2025. 

 

It just isn't a one-or-the other decision. Not even close. Want Cook or Benford or both? Fine. The Hoecht and Palmer signings don't affect that. Either way.

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Thurman#1