Benford Extended 4 Years - 76 million

[Draconator]

13 minutes ago, sven233 said:

It's a nice deal on the surface for sure.  What would make it even better is if there is an "out" after the next year or 2 just in case his concussion issue becomes a problem.  I hate to have to think that way because the guy is a very good player and this contract seems like a bargain if he stays healthy, but we have seen it already with several guys that concussions are nothing to mess with and with him coming off 2 in back to back weeks to finish the season is just a bit concerning to me.  Hopefully, though, it will never become an issue and we won't have to be overly concerned with it.

 

Now I see a lot of people talking about Cook and getting him done.  Look....I like Cook.  I think he's a very good player that can make plays for us.  But man.....I just don't value RBs the way I value other positions.  It's not a slight at Cook, but rather the position in general.  I am a firm believer that if you have a great line, any back with decent athleticism can produce for you and the drop off isn't as big as it might be with other positions.  I firmly believe that if we went out and drafted another RB in the 3rd round that runs 4.4 or better that we can get explosive plays from them as well.  I look at what Davis did as a rookie this year and he isn't near the athlete Cook is, but he always produced when called upon.  I think is Cook were to be traded or whatever and not on this team that we would be just fine with Davis, Johnson, and a rookie behind the line we have.  Cook is very good, but let's face it......  He played less than 50% of snaps and didn't play on 3rd down (and many times in crunch time) because the Bills rather have Johnson on the field in those situations.  That doesn't sound like a guy that I want to tie $15 million, or even $10 million a year up in.  Not sure what my ceiling would be because I just believe that money can be used on players at more premium positions.

 

I get it.  He's been very good for us.  He's our guy.  We drafted him and we want him on the team.  But I just don't view RB as a position you need to pay big money to in order to win.  I know that some will agree with me and some won't.  I totally get it.  But this is just my philosophy when it comes to roster construction.

 

Saquan Barkley would like to have a word with you. 

[4th&long]

Great deal for both sides! 

[sven233]

1 minute ago, Draconator said:

 

Saquan Barkley would like to have a word with you. 

 

And that's fine.....  I wouldn't have paid him that money either.  When I say I don't pay the position, I mean it.  Doesn't matter who it is.  He's a great player, but I would never pay him $20 million a year.  

[GunnerBill]

11 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

I'm sure that a bond must be part of it.

 

But you're almost always going to get some discount when you sign guys this early. 

 

Players are highly aware of what could happen if they don't sign and get injured in the 4th year. Or have a bad year, or whatever. Getting the big payday and a big hunk of cash early is huge for these guys.

 

Especially a guy like Benford who was a 6th round pick. His rookie deal paid him $3.8m total. Nice. Enough to be life changing, but not really enough to give him and his family total lifetime security. So I get betting on yourself but if he tears his knee up badly or something else week 1 having not signed and is never the same again and doesn't manage to cash in that matters to him more than most. That gave the Bills some leverage. As with all contracts devil is in the detail but sounds like a hell of a win to me.

[Draconator]

Just now, sven233 said:

 

And that's fine.....  I wouldn't have paid him that money either.  When I say I don't pay the position, I mean it.  Doesn't matter who it is.  He's a great player, but I would never pay him $20 million a year.  

Personally, I don't think the Eagles win the Superbowl or even come out of the NFC without Barkley in their backfield. 

[Thurman#1]

31 minutes ago, Thrivefourfive said:

Near what he wants. I really do. I think the point being made is Shut up and I’ll pay you. Beane has knocked down EVERY contract with ease and let’s be honest, hometown discounts. All of them. What Bill has gotten away for big money?? 
 

There’s no way we want to go into OUR  BEST CHANCE at a Super Bowl of the Allen era (again.. for like the third time- 2022,,..) without Cook’s weaponry. He’s an asset on the field and that can’t be argued against. Of course we want him here. Look at our receivers.. 

 

 

I'd agree, he's an asset on the field. Just not a $15M asset, and not really close.

 

My guess is that Cook is going to hold on unless they do indeed come close to $15M, and that that will turn the Bills off. 

 

Cook will be here next year whether they extend him or not. 2026? Now, that's up in the air.

 

I don't quite get your point when you say that Beane has knocked down these contracts with hometown discounts and that Cook will be paid about what he wants. Why would we treat Cook better than we treated the others?

 

Who's gotten away for big money? Tremaine Edmunds. Harrison Phillips got more than the Bills probably wanted to give him. Stephon Gilmore. Beane went public about how he wanted Robert Woods back but just couldn't afford him at that time.

 

Guys get big paydays from here sometimes. No reason to think Cook won't, particularly if he insists on close to that number. And I couldn't blame him if he did. RBs in particular have to cash in quick. But I wouldn't pay him much more than $10M.

 

$10 or $11M would put him sixth in AAV behind McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon, Alvin Kamara and Josh Jacobs. It's above Derrick Henry.

[Magox]

Cook at $13M AAV and it’s a wrap

[Thurman#1]

2 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Especially a guy like Benford who was a 6th round pick. His rookie deal paid him $3.8m total. Nice. Enough to be life changing, but not really enough to give him and his family total lifetime security. So I get betting on yourself but if he tears his knee up badly or something else week 1 having not signed and is never the same again and doesn't manage to cash in that matters to him more than most. That gave the Bills some leverage. As with all contracts devil is in the detail but sounds like a hell of a win to me.

 

 

Good point, Bill. $3.8M for four years, he's receiving. Getting that bonus check will take a huge weight off his shoulders.

[Doc Brown]

17 minutes ago, Draconator said:

 

Saquan Barkley would like to have a word with you. 

The guy who doubled the amount of yards Cook gained last year.  Great example.

[sven233]

14 minutes ago, Draconator said:

Personally, I don't think the Eagles win the Superbowl or even come out of the NFC without Barkley in their backfield. 

 

Maybe....  Nut he was pretty invisible in the Super Bowl and they dominated the Chiefs because they had a stout defense, a great O-Line and made a couple big plays down the field.  He was great all season, but I think a lot of backs could have gotten them enough production to win.

[Thrivefourfive]

57 minutes ago, <bills4life> said:

God I hope not.  Dude had one great season. Hardly enough to justify. Do it again quietly this season, and I could see it.  Quietly being the key word. 

What does he want again? 😂 $12m. I honestly forget at this point. It’s not $15m right, because that’s outta line.  3 years, $35m—$40m range with a bunch of team guarantees. That’s what I’m saying. 
 

He’s not a Bill for $10m/year as I think some here believe Beane should draw a line in the sand. I do not. Beane cannot spare this man. He fights. 

[<bills4life>]

15 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

He might only have had one "great" season but he had a pretty darn good one in 2023 too. That is not me advocating paying him. But I think he is still actually a bit underrated by some Bills fans. 

Can’t disagree. He is talented.  Just wish he would shut his mouth and go out and ball. The bills have demonstrated that they will take care of their own.  Guess I’m burnt out from the diggs drama. With his brother (Dalvin) chirping in his ear, if he threatens to hold out I hope Beane trades him. 

[DapperCam]

1 hour ago, Steptide said:

It's utterly shocking how beane has gotten all these guys over the years to work for less money than they could get. I say that as a good thing. Those guys must really have a bond 

Part of it as a player is locking in generational wealth as soon as possible. These guys know they are one play away from their career being over. If Beane comes along and offers you $32m guaranteed (what Shakir got), it is hard to say "I'll play out the last year on my contact and hit UFA." Because that $32m could become $0.

A team like the Bengals could learn a thing or two, extend your guys early.

[Thurman#1]

1 hour ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

 

Cook + #30 for #12

 

 

 

I get that you may well have wanted to be taken with a grain of salt.

 

Just wanted to quickly go through what it'd probably take in draft picks to get from #30 to #12.

 

On the Rich Hill draft pick value chart, #30 is 620 points and #12 is 1200 points. Meaning that to go up that far we'd need another first rounder this year at about the same level. 

 

Or if we could give up both our 2nd rounders this year and that would about do it, though teams moving up usually have to pay a bit extra to do so.

 

Anybody think any other teams are valuing Cook at the value of a late first rounder, or two seconds? I greatly doubt it. Throwing in Cook with #30 might get us up to the late teens, maybe. But maybe not. Any team we trade him to knows they are likely to have trouble signing him at what most would consider a reasonable valuation.

 

 

6 minutes ago, Thrivefourfive said:

What does he want again? 😂 $12m. I honestly forget at this point. It’s not $15m right, because that’s outta line.  3 years, $35m—$40m range with a bunch of team guarantees. That’s what I’m saying. 
 

He’s not a Bill for $10m/year as I think some here believe Beane should draw a line in the sand. I do not. Beane cannot spare this man. He fights. 

 

 

It is $15M AAV he talked about.

 

 

Edited Saturday at 06:55 PM by Thurman#1

[Draconator]

5 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

The guy who doubled the amount of yards Cook gained last year.  Great example.

It wasn't so much a Cook vs Barkley comparison. It was to counter the post that RB's aren't that important, that they are interchangeable. You have a back like Barkley, you can do some damage. Cook had good games for us. Cook is not in Barkley's league. 

[Thrivefourfive]

20 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

I'd agree, he's an asset on the field. Just not a $15M asset, and not really close.

 

My guess is that Cook is going to hold on unless they do indeed come close to $15M, and that that will turn the Bills off. 

 

Cook will be here next year whether they extend him or not. 2026? Now, that's up in the air.

 

I don't quite get your point when you say that Beane has knocked down these contracts with hometown discounts and that Cook will be paid about what he wants. Why would we treat Cook better than we treated the others?

 

Who's gotten away for big money? Tremaine Edmunds. Harrison Phillips got more than the Bills probably wanted to give him. Stephon Gilmore. Beane went public about how he wanted Robert Woods back but just couldn't afford him at that time.

 

Guys get big paydays from here sometimes. No reason to think Cook won't, particularly if he insists on close to that number. And I couldn't blame him if he did. RBs in particular have to cash in quick. But I wouldn't pay him much more than $10M.

 

$10 or $11M would put him sixth in AAV behind McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon, Alvin Kamara and Josh Jacobs. It's above Derrick Henry.

Sorry, this off season. The past is irreverent regarding the here and now of negotiations. Also apologize. My later post has the questions I’m ignorant to about what Cook wants. Of course no player gets what he wants. 

[Governor]

2 hours ago, Einstein said:

I'd be shocked if Beane was willing to give Cook anywhere near what he wants.

What do you think he would give?

12

[Thurman#1]

1 minute ago, Thrivefourfive said:

Sorry, this off season. The past is irreverent regarding the here and now of negotiations. Also apologize. My later post has the questions I’m ignorant to about what Cook wants. Of course no player gets what he wants. 

 

 

Dude, no problem. There's so much going on here all the time, I swear I miss half of it.

[GunnerBill]

Just one more point on the signings more generally - I did say back in January I expected Beane to tie most of his 2022 draft up and he has now done 3 of the 4 guys we were talking about from that class. It is his best draft since 2018. It is something he can hang his hat on as GM. If he let them all walk then this time next year when you started looking at the roster to find Beane's draft successes beyond rookie contracts it would likely have just been Allen, Oliver, Taron and Spencer Brown. That's not a ton for a guy who has been in situ for 8 drafts. With the three 2022 guys and Groot it looks a lot healthier a list.

[Thrivefourfive]

Just now, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Dude, no problem. There's so much going on here all the time, I swear I miss half of it.

Do you think Cook backs off that, and “settles” for a consensus that we could swallow— that three or four year deal in the $12.5m year range?

 

Don’t  get me wrong, I do not care if Beane  overpays right here. He has saved a lot of money on this round of contracts for young + good/vg players. Hey, it’s not our money! 😂 and I don’t think Beane would ruin the day with a Cook overpay (<— 😁) 

 

What I mean by the past being irrelevant,, those other guys in years past that Beane couldn’t retain… there was no MVP Josh Allen bargaining chip. So irrelevant to now. 
 

Now, pay Cook and I have my worries. He’s brother took the money and ran. Period. I hope James doesn’t do that. But nobody can guarantee that..