SCBills

If Cook would take the Kyren Williams deal, as I think John Wawrow alluded he might, then Cook is probably being reasonable in his ask and it sounds like the Bills FO maybe just doesn’t want him back unless it’s at a low number. If Cook wants more than Kyren Williams, then (imo) he should ask for a trade if he that’s upset about us not offering that or stop the nonsense and play out his final year. Cook and Kyren are similarly valued players albeit very different. Cook is more talented and explosive but doesn’t offer the all-around 3 down back ability Kyren does. And we are not in the same position as LA, with Kyren. We have an elite mobile QB. They have a very good, but aging immobile QB dealing with a somewhat serious injury.

Bishop has got to get back out there. He’s becoming the only piece im worried about capping the ceiling of this defense. Rapp is injury prone as well, but is a solid to above average safety. Our CB situation with Benford, Tre and Taron looks really strong. Milano/Bernard, again with the health question, but when healthy might be the best LB tandem in the NFL. Revamped DL with a ton of talent and potential. Just holding out hope Bishop can get back on the field so we’re not capped with replacement level play from Hamlin all season.

Feels like 5.5 roster spots counting for 6 when we include Samuel. The staff really wants him to work out here, and he’s looked good when healthy, but it’s just insane at this point with his constant injuries.

No, but I was surprised McDermott said he expects him to be there today. Seems to be getting a bit more contentious, otherwise I would think McD would just sidestep the topic .. something like “we obviously hope he’s out there, but…”

Bishop still out and Rapp expected to miss a week.

There’s only a few RB’s I’d consider to make sense saying “all world” Henry and Saquon aren’t getting traded. CMC and Kamara.. maybe? Lots of mentions of Cook and Hall in the replies.

I don’t think a trade of Cook would be done unless we get a player back that can help us this year. I’m not saying some mega deal for Parsons, but I don’t think it would be Cook for a 3rd.

I think he’s either extended, traded or comes back for the opener. I put the first two at higher odds than the last one. I have to imagine the next move, if no extension is on the horizon, is a trade demand.

It’s more an issue of what I’d rather spend 11-12M per year on. If we can pay Cook and keep McGovern/Torrence. Ok, I can get on board. If it means we lose one of them next year to keep Cook.. I’d rather pay the above average Center or potentially elite RG over him and then draft a home run hitter in Round 2 or 3. Based on how Milano has looked in camp, if he stays healthy this year, the Bills will definitely want to bring him back. What if Bosa stays healthy all year and has a huge impact? AJ & Bosa will be FA’s after the year so the Bills will likely be in the Draft/FA Market for an EDGE. Thats not a cheap position to fill, even if they believe in Jackson & Solomon. IF we use Cook more in the passing game, then like I’ve said before, I do see Alvin Kamara in his prime potential, but if we pay him.. he better be more than a sub 50% snaps player and he better not wear down with more usage.

Rams paid a RB because they run a lot and have a statue at QB. Bills have an athletic freak who will still be in his prime for the duration of what would be a James Cook extension. I understand the similarities between the Bills and Rams elite run offenses, even further comparison driven by Cook and Kyren being that B-level tier of RB behind Saquon and Henry, but our QB situations are not the same. Rams might be even more reliant on the run game this year with McVay’s ominous remarks about Stafford.

So what do you want? To pay him 15M and lose McGovern or Torrence? We also have much more potential on offense this year with Coleman Year 2, Kincaid Year 3, Palmer & Moore vs Rookie Coleman, injured Kincaid, Cooper and Hollins.

Italians are some of the most patriotic people you’ll ever meet. None of us would say “I am a proud Italian before I am American”. Just take the L.

Democrats have no idea how radicalizing it is to normal Americans when they see stuff like “I am Guatemalan before I am American” from an elected Democrat.

Ok, cool.. go back and pay Karlaftis 30M per year then. After all, it’s not your money.

I enjoy the fans who go so over the top in defending the player. Yall are right, Cook has every right to do what he’s doing. I agree. Why do other fans have to like it? I don’t root for the Buffalo Cooks. I root for the Buffalo Bills and if he had his way, we’d have 15M+ against the cap for the next 4 years, paying a RB while a guy like Torrence walks or we don’t have money to take a swing on a Palmer or Bosa. I don’t begrudge him, but he’s not a DE, he’s not a WR, he’s not even a Top 3 RB. I do believe he has Alvin Kamara in his prime potential, but I haven’t seen that yet. Beane better be **** sure that’s in there if he’s gonna meet him where Cook wants to show back up for us.

Beane interview this morning had a way different tenor than I was expecting based on Tom Pellissero’s reporting. Not that it was bad blood or anything, but Beane sounded like a guy unmoved off his position and put this negotiation in the timeframe of “if it doesn’t get done before the season, it doesn’t get done”…. Which I’m not sure how compatible that is with Cook’s sudden vibe shift.

Reports out of practice are that Torrence looks poised to make that Spencer Brown jump.

Best case scenario deal for us would be something like Greg Tompsett outlined on X… Cook and Epenesa plus 2026 1st and 3rd, along with a 2027 1st for Parsons. Restructure Knox and Dawkins and we’re good this year, then it gets tight for a few years. I posted in another thread that it works, but we’re likely gutting our interior OL to do this move. Figure zero chance we can extend McGovern and/or Edwards. Which is fine.. they might already view Grable, Anderson, SVPG as the future after this year. But Torrence would sting if he’s the cap casualty. Thats a good deal for both sides. Dallas gets a star player, vet DE and strong pick compensation. We get Parsons and would keep Rousseau. But Kromer would suddenly becomes worth his weight in gold. Funny enough, I wouldn’t worry because I think this FO, for their struggles in certain areas.. are absolutely lights out on the OL since his hire.

For a 26 year old elite pass rusher, yea, I think they would. Probably THE only type of player they would do that for.

Its tough because he has been impressive, imo, up until today .. and even today, I’m not overly bothered by it. Now if it drags on… The bigger issue is that a lot of us don’t view spending big money on a RB as smart cap asset management. So, while hes doing everything (for the most part), the right way - he’s still raking the team over the coals for every last penny as a running back. Which means potentially no McGovern and Edwards next year, instead of just one gone. Stuff like that. Maybe if Bosa has a great year and we want to extend, same with Milano.. this deal could throw a wrench in those as they would likely be shorter term deals. So, long story short, when you ask what you asked.. some of us are just ready to throw our hands up super quick (and that’s unfair to Cook) because we really don’t want to pay a RB that type of money.

I have to disagree. Parsons on a DL with Ed Oliver and Greg Rousseau (if he didn’t go in a trade) plus the sky high potential of TJ Sanders… Disgusting. Best DL in the NFL level disgusting. We’ve only seen Rousseau and Oliver out there with an elite talent for like 6 games before Von got hurt. Parsons not only is elite himself, picture Oliver and Rousseau with 1 on 1’s all game, and heaven help teams if Sanders reaches his potential.

I think you just have to do it and figure it out later. They have restructures, trades, cuts they can do to make it fit this year and then next year you’re just obviously knowing you have to replace James Cook, Connor McGovern and David Edwards. Potentially makes a long term deal for O’Cyrus Torrence tougher. If, and I know we likely won’t, but if we did get this deal done.. We’re essentially gutting the interior of the OL over the next two years to pay Parsons. So how do we feel about Kromer’s ability to have replacements ready to go in SVPG, Grable, Anderson etc.? as that might be the succession plan should we make this trade.