Has Cook talked himself OFF the Bills for 2025

[Rocky Landing]

6 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

Exactly- The Bills O line is elite- Cook had massive holes to run through all year.

 

I am not trying to say Cook isn't a good player, because he is. But at what cost?

 

I would rather a mid round pick who would make 2-3 mil per season, combined with Ray Davis and Ty Johnson- At let's say 80-90 % of the production. Compared to paying Cook 13-15 mil

Here’s a take sure to be flamed— Ty Johnson had an amazing season in ‘24, and consistently made eye-popping catches. Allen repeatedly called him “the best third down back in the league.” And they just re-signed him. 
 

How might that affect Cook’s value?

[BillsFan130]

7 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

Here’s a take sure to be flamed— Ty Johnson had an amazing season in ‘24, and consistently made eye-popping catches. Allen repeatedly called him “the best third down back in the league.” And they just re-signed him. 
 

How might that affect Cook’s value?

Good post. I think a lot.

 

Cook wants 15 mil. (Or close to)

 

And guys who get that money, play 75% of the snaps roughly.

 

With the bills signing Ty Johnson back which eats up a lot of 3rd down snaps, I definitely think it's a clear indicator the bills see cook more as a 50% snap guy, which would effect his value

Edited Saturday at 03:44 PM by BillsFan130

[frostbitmic]

Has Cook been heard from since his social media bit ? ... Honest question because I haven't heard a peep.

 

Maybe they threatened to trade him to the Giants, Panthers or Browns.

[Einstein's Dog]

1 hour ago, FireChans said:

The Bills used a second to get Cook, and got 3 cheap years out of him.

 

are you under the impression that trading him for a third would be bad value?

I would not want to trade Cook for a third.  A third round RB would not be as good as Cook is now.

 

This year is the year of most value from Cook at $5M.   I hope he plays at this price.

[RunTheBall]

I like James. He’s a good not great back because he can’t pass block. He’s probably worth 10-12 mil/yr for 3 years to the Bills. If he doesn’t like that, run him into the ground in 2025, let him walk, get a comp pick. 

[Jimmy Harris 69]

The Bills are not strangers to this sort of public posturing by players. They have generally ignored press statements or kept it classy by expressing their love,  like Beane has for Cook. In the end they will set a value and offer Cook three or four years. Should they remain at an impasse, I can see Cook playing on this contract through this year. The Bills could then franchise him and trade him next year. Despite what happened in Philly, GB and Baltimore this year,  with bell cow running backs, I don’t see the Bills paying Cook like Saquon Barkley or the others on those teams. They will move him and use a combination of Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Frank Gore, Darrynton Evans and/or some draftee or free agent to replace Cook’s production. 

[BigAl2526]

Well, Cook is under contract for the 2025 season.  I suppose that Beane's options are to cave and sign him for a big money deal now, try and trade him (assuming there is a team willing to risk that Cook will accept what they are willing to play, or let Cook play out his rookie deal in hopes that Cook doesn't hold out or become locker room poison.  If Beane goes into the draft without being relatively certain about Cook's future with the team, I assume he will draft a running back.

[SirAndrew]

I understand that 15 million is too much for Cook, but this offense is in trouble without him. Fans become passionate about players who ask for too much money, but many of us are underestimating Cook’s value to this team. We have a roster without a legitimate outside receiver, and Cook was a force last season. This offense might struggle to function at a high level without Cook. I’m not saying we should pay him, but the loss of Cook would be concerning. 

Edited Saturday at 05:14 PM by SirAndrew

[SoTier]

12 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

It's not an unpopular take at all.  I prefer we keep him but if we can get a 3rd round pick for him I wouldn't hesitate.  His stock is at an all time high now because of the disproportionate TD's last year compared to the year before.  Plus, he was one of the few players who had a great game the last time we saw him.  Either trade him now and draft a RB if you can get a desperate GM gives up a 3rd round pick or better.  If not, let him play out his final year of his contract and if he produces the same numbers as he did the previous season then you pry have to let him walk.  If his numbers regress then you can pry sign him at $6m to $8m a year next off-season.  If some team offers more then so be it.

 

This is my position, too.  I hope he agrees to a reasonable contract because I would love to see him stay with the Bills, but not at an inflated price.  He's not an every down RB because he doesn't block all that well.  He's also not a workhorse back like Barkley.  I don't know where that puts his value to the Bills, but it's not close to Barkley territory.

 

As for his "talk" on social media, I don't think that's going to influence the Bills FO one way or the other which seems to be something that the OP was hinting at when he started this thread. 

[RyanC883]

Trade for a 3rd. Draft 1-2 guys 

[Big Turk]

Unlikely.

[Billl]

RB contracts look to have finally bottomed out and are rebounding.  3 years for somewhere between $12m and $15m per isn’t unreasonable for a top 10 RB.  I mean, Beane’s handed out not insignificant cash to guys like Hoecht, Ogunjobi, and Palmer, but he’s going to get into a pissing contest with Cook over a million or two a year?  I don’t get it.  

 

What’s the point of spending a second round draft pick on a player who you don’t think will be worth that amount even if you hit on the pick?  If the 5-10th best player at a position isn’t worth $15 million per year then there is no reason to ever draft a player who plays that position before day 3 of the draft.  

[Dan]

14 hours ago, DeepPass said:

He's a very good running back,  He's a very good receiver.  He stated he should be on the field for all 3 downs.  Obviously, this goes against "everyone eats" philosophy. He wants somewhere between $8 to $15 mil per season.  That's Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry type money.

 

Does he hold out?  Does he sign a lower contract to stay with the Bills?  Will he be traded with a draft pick allowing the Bills to move up substantially in the 2025 draft?

 

The Bills have a long history of very good running backs (Simpson & Thomas were GREAT RB's) even in the dark ages with Terry Miller, Greg Bell, Joe Cribbs and CJ Spiller.all playing a significant role for the Bills in rushing and receiving.  Do we really need to have one of the highest paid backs in the League?

 

Comments Please!   Go Bills!

 

This is what I don’t get… so many people talk about how easy it is to find good running backs.  And yet in this post you talk about players from the 70s, 80s and 90s.   Even CJ spiller’s best years were 2012 & ‘13.  
 

So it’s been over a decade and people think Cook is so easily replaced.  I would suggest people need to back away from the keyboard, think with a bit of perspective, and let Beane worry about the cap space and player salaries.  
 

Why are Bills’ fans so cheap?    Personally I don’t care what they pay the players… just put the best team on the field. And Cook is the best RB we have. 
 

[Doc Brown]

4 hours ago, Einstein's Dog said:

A 3rd?  The Bills used a 2nd to get Cook.  And the Bills have dealt with the growing pains to get to where he is now, an excellent, but not complete RB.  The Bills could probably get something close to a 3rd in a comp pick when he leaves if he gets close to $15M on the open market.

 

Secondly, Cook is one of the offenses most exciting weapons, he has the ability to take it to the house on almost any play.  The Bills did not acquire anyone else who is near that level (didn't want DK at his price apparently).  Moving on from Cook weakens the team in 2025. 

 

So, no, I don't want the FO to trade Cook for a third.  Yes, have Cook play out his contract if a reasonable extension isn't able to be done.

 

As to the OP, slight modification, it's not that Cook is talking, it is about the substance of what we see as a negotiating problem.  Cook put out a $15M figure clueing in most of Bills nation that there will be a problem (and the problem stems from Cook's end).  We don't know if Benford is doing an outrageously high figure because he hasn't posted it.  Seems like it was a bizarre miscalculation from Cook's camp that floating that figure would somehow help them.

You think some team will give up a 2nd rounder and then sign him to a top of the market deal?  You're delusional.  The Seahawks only got a 2nd at a premium position for a much more hard to find #1 WR in his prime.  Cook had great efficiency but still only broke 1,000 yards last year because he's not a bell cow back.  The best we could pry do if he stays this year comp wise is a 5th rounder next year.  That's assuming he repeats last year's performance.  In a deep RB draft I'd just use a 2nd or the 3rd round pick used in the trade to draft another RB.  I'm not sure any team would do that though.  It's 15 million per year we could use to re-sign guys like Benford and extend McGovern.  Maybe a big ticket free agent next year at a premium positions.

[nosejob]

2 hours ago, RunTheBall said:

I like James. He’s a good not great back because he can’t pass block. He’s probably worth 10-12 mil/yr for 3 years to the Bills. If he doesn’t like that, run him into the ground in 2025, let him walk, get a comp pick. 

I don't think that's how they roll. If he holds out or threatens to hold out I can see them rolling with Gore jr./Ty/Davis and a rook. I like Cook. Can't see the Bills doing the bolded.

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, Billl said:

RB contracts look to have finally bottomed out and are rebounding.  3 years for somewhere between $12m and $15m per isn’t unreasonable for a top 10 RB.  I mean, Beane’s handed out not insignificant cash to guys like Hoecht, Ogunjobi, and Palmer, but he’s going to get into a pissing contest with Cook over a million or two a year?  I don’t get it.  

 

What’s the point of spending a second round draft pick on a player who you don’t think will be worth that amount even if you hit on the pick?  If the 5-10th best player at a position isn’t worth $15 million per year then there is no reason to ever draft a player who plays that position before day 3 of the draft.  

A top 10 RB can Block and is a 3 down back. Cook is not that.

[bigK14094]

15 hours ago, poblano said:

   This is incorrect,   he isn't so polished as pass blocker, therefore the team has to get it out on most 3rd downs,  as the final series of AFCCG   demonstrated 

 

Actually, he is not a reliable receiver.  Drops are in his repertoire.  Thats why Ty Johnson is the receiving back!  He is a great runner ,but, the rest of his game is middling.

[Einstein's Dog]

48 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

You think some team will give up a 2nd rounder and then sign him to a top of the market deal?  You're delusional.  The Seahawks only got a 2nd at a premium position for a much more hard to find #1 WR in his prime.  Cook had great efficiency but still only broke 1,000 yards last year because he's not a bell cow back.  The best we could pry do if he stays this year comp wise is a 5th rounder next year.  That's assuming he repeats last year's performance.  In a deep RB draft I'd just use a 2nd or the 3rd round pick used in the trade to draft another RB.  I'm not sure any team would do that though.  It's 15 million per year we could use to re-sign guys like Benford and extend McGovern.  Maybe a big ticket free agent next year at a premium positions.

Reread what I said, I would not trade Cook for a 3rd.  Any 3rd rounder we got would not be of the level of Cook so the team would be weaker.

 

If that means no team trades for Cook so be it, have Cook play it out here.  You don't trade an ascending top 10 RB, drafted in the second round, with a salary of $5M, for a third.

[FireChans]

41 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

Reread what I said, I would not trade Cook for a 3rd.  Any 3rd rounder we got would not be of the level of Cook so the team would be weaker.

 

If that means no team trades for Cook so be it, have Cook play it out here.  You don't trade an ascending top 10 RB, drafted in the second round, with a salary of $5M, for a third.

What if he holds out

[Doc Brown]

39 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

Reread what I said, I would not trade Cook for a 3rd.  Any 3rd rounder we got would not be of the level of Cook so the team would be weaker.

 

If that means no team trades for Cook so be it, have Cook play it out here.  You don't trade an ascending top 10 RB, drafted in the second round, with a salary of $5M, for a third.

I'm assuming it would be a top of the 3rd round pick because any team dumb enough to do it pry sucks anyways so they'd have a high pick.  There should be plenty of RB's that are just as explosive as Cook in this draft that will be available in the late 2nd/early 3rd.  You'd be looking at paying a RB a little less than $2m per year as opposed to the $15m that Cook wants.  Beane would have to bet on himself though and trust his scouting department.  That's the part that scares me.  LOL.