Is Cook worth it?

[Big Turk]

9 minutes ago, klos63 said:

So the 10-11 million you're OK with paying, isn't that paying a premium based on last season,  certainly it can't be for his first 2 seasons. 

 

I mean he was 6th in Scrimmage yards the season before last year so I'd say it's probably fair value based on 2 straight 1K rushing seasons while also acknowledging he is not among the elite of the elite.

Edited Thursday at 04:02 AM by Big Turk

[billsfan714]

Cook and Knox should flip salaries, I mean why are we paying 14 million for a guy with back to back 22 catch seasons.

Edited Thursday at 02:53 PM by billsfan714

[Mat68]

In a vacuum his production could be close to replicated.  I think his explosive plays and his athletic ability is underrated.  With his style of running its so smooth he looks slow.  The explosive run getting 30-40-50+ instead of 20-25 is what you are giving up.  They both count as explosives runs but one limits the defense in ways the other does not.  That is what in my opinion warrants a Rb getting paid.  You can rinse and repeat 4 yards a carry 1,000 yards.  Having a guy who can take it 50 plus at any time is a different animal.  I think that element Cook brings is the hardest to find and replicate consistently. 

[ganesh]

On 6/8/2025 at 9:18 PM, pennstate10 said:

Is that correct about vesting?

I seem to remember another player (not Bills) holding out until game 8 or so, because that was the latest he could wait and still get pension credit. 

I believe it is the “vesting” and the fines.  He could get fined up to $11M. And he will make 5.6M. 

[Mister Defense]

Not sure if this has been posted on this long thread, but great news for Cook supporters and Bills' fans last week from the mouth of Josh Allen.

 

In response to a question on Cook's contract he said, "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

When I heard him say that last week it renewed my confidence that this nonsense is settled well before the season begins.

 

When the best player on the team, and in the league, says that in public it is inevitable and "soon".  Before training camp? 

 

Josh is smart, and he knows it was Kelly and Thomas leading the way, and Aikman and Smith, and Montana and Craig, and Bradshaw and Harris etcetera.  And that the success of one fed the success of the other. And that inserting just a good back would have meant different outcomes.

 

 

[The Frankish Reich]

You are almost always going to overpay for the anticipated decline years in order to afford the anticipated 2-3 productive years. At this point with the Bills, you gotta do it.

Edited Saturday at 06:01 PM by The Frankish Reich

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

3 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

In response to a question on Cook's contract he said, "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

Let's not be penny wise and pound foolish.

 

Josh has authorized it.

 

Pay the man Beane !!

[RochesterLifer]

18 hours ago, JakeFrommStateFarm said:

Let's not be penny wise and pound foolish.

 

Josh has authorized it.

 

Pay the man Beane !!

I seriously doubt Beane is refusing to pay the man. However, very few players (Allen and Mahomes aside) get to simply demand their salary. It appears Cook has attempted to do this on social media. He must be willing to negotiate. We have no idea what is happening behind closed doors. He may be privately engaged in earnest negotiations.

 

I have no doubt the Bills are making serious offers. We'll see where it lands. 

[Artful Dodger]

22 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

Not sure if this has been posted on this long thread, but great news for Cook supporters and Bills' fans last week from the mouth of Josh Allen.

 

In response to a question on Cook's contract he said, "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

When I heard him say that last week it renewed my confidence that this nonsense is settled well before the season begins.

 

When the best player on the team, and in the league, says that in public it is inevitable and "soon".  Before training camp? 

 

Josh is smart, and he knows it was Kelly and Thomas leading the way, and Aikman and Smith, and Montana and Craig, and Bradshaw and Harris etcetera.  And that the success of one fed the success of the other. And that inserting just a good back would have meant different outcomes.

 

 

Allen is doing what he can to keep Cook happy.  Is he going to say that he doesn't think Cook deserves the money?  

 

[Mister Defense]

7 hours ago, Artful Dodger said:

Allen is doing what he can to keep Cook happy.  Is he going to say that he doesn't think Cook deserves the money?  

 

 

Nope, as almost assuredly Allen's words are not just perfunctory. He is good at beating around the bush when he wants to.  See his comments on Diggs' departure, for example.

 

Here, they are specific and clear-- Allen considers Cook underpaid and wants him to get his bag-- and "soon": "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

He sent the same kind of clear message the day after Dorsey was fired, "it had to be done". Clear and blunt, just like his words last week on James Cook.

 

Take him at his specific word in both instances. He has become a more vocal leader and this is yet another example--and not just empty words you claim.

 

You are probably just worried that if that is true, he definitely also has McDermott and Beane's ears behind the scenes and a deal may be imminent.

 

 

 

 

[Thurman#1]

On 6/19/2025 at 10:46 AM, klos63 said:

With that logic we really have no RB's on the roster worth much of a contract. 

Can't expect much more than 3 rushing TDs from Davis or 1 from Ty.

 

Yeah, not many players put up neck to back 18td seasons,  but this is no ordinary offense, we were the highest scoring team in the league.  This is becoming a run first offense and Cook excels in that.  We sign him to an extension,  might even lower this years cap number. 

Honestly,  never seen a high drafted player coming off such a tremendous season with so many wanting him gone.  

This is what the Sabres do,  not the Bills.

 

 

Where are all these people "wanting him gone"? I suppose there are probably a few, but very few.

 

Most of us don't want him gone, we don't want to overpay for him. And we think that $15M would absolutely be overpaying, and strongly suspect that Cook isn't going to sign for what we want to pay. He'll get more from someone, is my suspicion.

 

On 6/19/2025 at 10:46 AM, klos63 said:

With that logic we really have no RB's on the roster worth much of a contract. 

Can't expect much more than 3 rushing TDs from Davis or 1 from Ty.

 

Yeah, not many players put up neck to back 18td seasons,  but this is no ordinary offense, we were the highest scoring team in the league.  This is becoming a run first offense and Cook excels in that.  We sign him to an extension,  might even lower this years cap number. 

Honestly,  never seen a high drafted player coming off such a tremendous season with so many wanting him gone.  

This is what the Sabres do,  not the Bills.

 

 

No way. Davis and Ty are worth their contracts. Maybe a bit of an uptick at the end.

 

And this isn't a run-first offense. It just isn't. It's maybe a pass-1A and run-1B offense. It's a you don't know what we'll do on any particular play because we can do what we want offense. Makes us unpredictable.

 

And while it's nice to lower this year's cap number, that's not the only year that matters. They all matter. And overpaying is not a good idea, it just isn't.

 

 

Edited 13 hours ago by Thurman#1

[Thurman#1]

6 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

 

Nope, as almost assuredly Allen's words are not just perfunctory. He is good at beating around the bush when he wants to.  See his comments on Diggs' departure, for example.

 

Here, they are specific and clear-- Allen considers Cook underpaid and wants him to get his bag-- and "soon": "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

He sent the same kind of clear message the day after Dorsey was fired, "it had to be done". Clear and blunt, just like his words last week on James Cook.

 

Take him at his specific word in both instances. He has become a more vocal leader and this is yet another example--and not just empty words you claim.

 

You are probably just worried that if that is true, he definitely also has McDermott and Beane's ears behind the scenes and a deal may be imminent.

 

 

 

Josh says this sort of thing about everyone. As he should.

 

Example? On Mack Hollins:  "'Super sad to see Mack go. I know he was kind of a fan favorite as well as a favorite in the locker room. I'm very happy for him and what he got. Hate that he's a division rival now but it's the game that we play.'"

 

We could very easily see Josh making the same kind of statement about Cook when he goes after next season.

 

Is Devin Singletary as good as Cook? Or is he just a good back?

 

Because this offense was extremely successful with Singletary as our #1 also.

 

And did Josh actually say, "It had to be done," about getting rid of Dorsey? I don't remember that, so I googled it and your post is the #1 thing at google with those elements. I think you might be misremembering. But if I'm wrong, I'd certainly respect it if you could link it.

 

Anytime Josh is asked about a salary dispute about a guy still on the team, he's going to say much the same thing. Not that I have any doubt Josh would like him back. I'm sure he would (along with most of the roster). But he understands salary cap issues. 

[Mister Defense]

4 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Josh says this sort of thing about everyone. As he should.

 

Example? On Mack Hollins:  "'Super sad to see Mack go. I know he was kind of a fan favorite as well as a favorite in the locker room. I'm very happy for him and what he got. Hate that he's a division rival now but it's the game that we play.'"

 

We could very easily see Josh making the same kind of statement about Cook when he goes after next season.

 

Is Devin Singletary as good as Cook? Or is he just a good back?

 

Because this offense was extremely successful with Singletary as our #1 also.

 

And did Josh actually say, "It had to be done," about getting rid of Dorsey? I don't remember that, so I googled it and your post is the #1 thing at google with those elements. I think you might be misremembering. But if I'm wrong, I'd certainly respect it if you could link it.

 

Anytime Josh is asked about a salary dispute about a guy still on the team, he's going to say much the same thing. Not that I have any doubt Josh would like him back. I'm sure he would (along with most of the roster). But he understands salary cap issues. 

 

 

I really disagree with what you say. Josh Allen does not often put himself out there in support of a player getting paid more--he clearly did so this time.  Just look at the words he chooses in that quote. it is clear he thinks Cook is not being payed what he deserves and wants this taken care of soon.  I believe that the change in tone of Beane last week about Cook's contract status is the result of Josh being back in the house, speaking publicly about what he wants done--and very likely doing so to team leaders as well. 

 

Your examples of him praising former teammates who have left the team are not relevant, not a good comparison.  Josh did not say they should have payed those players more, just praised them as teammates. That is a very different thing than what he is doing for Cook now.

 

Yup, he would likely praise Cook next off season if he were to leave.  Kind of a duh there, though, don't you think?  I laughed at the way you phrased that, as it is revealing:  "We could very easily see Josh making the same kind of statement about Cook when he goes after next season."  It seems, like so many of the 'let Cook walk' posters, you are clear in what you would like to see.

 

Yes, Josh actually said that "it had to be done" in an interview/press conference almost immediately after Dorsey was fired.  But just like the quote I used in my post, and that you reference, it is not found online when doing a Google search.  Because it was not in a written interview, those words, like his comments on Cook  at minicamp,  do not show up in a Google search.

 

I think we will see very shortly the pull Josh Allen has on this team, and Cook is given a good three year extension that better "reflects" his play as "one of the best backs in the league."  Josh is right and I strongly believe it now gets done before the season begins.

 

 

 

 

[DJB]

Should have drafted Henderson and moved on from Cook while getting a comp pick back

Edited 7 hours ago by DJB

[Mister Defense]

9 minutes ago, DJB said:

Should have drafted Henderson and moved on from Cook while getting a comp pick back

 

Great way to build a team...

 

Ignore your team's glaring weaknesses on defense...

 

Ignore the fact that you already have a top tier, and I say elite, running back, and a young one at that...  Instead, create a glaring need by "letting Cook walk".

 

And instead of improving your team, eliminating a clear weakness and turning it into a strength, just spin your wheels--and also just hope that Henderson is as good as Cook.

 

Makes perfect sense. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BarleyNY]

41 minutes ago, DJB said:

Should have drafted Henderson and moved on from Cook while getting a comp pick back

a team doesn’t get a comp pick unless they have a player whose contract expires AND that player signs a qualifying contract from another team AND your team signs fewer FAs to qualifying contracts. Cook’s rookie deal expires after THIS season. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

Im sure beane has offered a fair and realistic contract. So far Cook,his dumb ass brother and I guess agent, are still in fantasy land.

[BarleyNY]

31 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Im sure beane has offered a fair and realistic contract. So far Cook,his dumb ass brother and I guess agent, are still in fantasy land.

 

Honestly, maybe the Bills and Cook’s camp are both correct. Realistically, players like him often get overpaid when they hit FA. These days not RBs so much, but it happens. Barring a bad injury I would bet that some bad team will overpay Cook next off-season. At minimum he should get about what he would from the Bills. So he’s gambling on himself having a good year and  it getting injured. I’ve got no problem with that. 

 

This all doesn’t mean that the Bills aren’t handling this correctly too though. They appear to have his value properly determined. We don’t know for sure because we don’t have those numbers, but judging by the other contracts they handed out this off-season I’d say they’re probably offering something that is more than fair. Sometimes things don’t work out. And that’s okay. 

[2003Contenders]

Cook plays a position that historically has a very short shelf-life in the NFL, and there is a good chance that this is his one-and-only shot at a huge payday -- so it is hard to fault him and his agent for playing hardball and try to get every penny they can. 

 

Meanwhile, Beane has to be fiscally responsible and look at the entire roster structure and contend with a tight salary cap. We're mercifully pretty far removed from the Russ days of the front office going to the press to demean players during negotiations to preemptively cast them as malcontents or greedy in the public's eye (and hope fans view the player as such when he inevitably signed somewhere else). 

 

The good news is that Cook did show up for mandatory workouts, so hopefully that is a sign that both sides are working in good faith. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

55 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

 

Honestly, maybe the Bills and Cook’s camp are both correct. Realistically, players like him often get overpaid when they hit FA. These days not RBs so much, but it happens. Barring a bad injury I would bet that some bad team will overpay Cook next off-season. At minimum he should get about what he would from the Bills. So he’s gambling on himself having a good year and  it getting injured. I’ve got no problem with that. 

 

This all doesn’t mean that the Bills aren’t handling this correctly too though. They appear to have his value properly determined. We don’t know for sure because we don’t have those numbers, but judging by the other contracts they handed out this off-season I’d say they’re probably offering something that is more than fair. Sometimes things don’t work out. And that’s okay. 

Good take.

31 minutes ago, 2003Contenders said:

Cook plays a position that historically has a very short shelf-life in the NFL, and there is a good chance that this is his one-and-only shot at a huge payday -- so it is hard to fault him and his agent for playing hardball and try to get every penny they can. 

 

Meanwhile, Beane has to be fiscally responsible and look at the entire roster structure and contend with a tight salary cap. We're mercifully pretty far removed from the Russ days of the front office going to the press to demean players during negotiations to preemptively cast them as malcontents or greedy in the public's eye (and hope fans view the player as such when he inevitably signed somewhere else). 

 

The good news is that Cook did show up for mandatory workouts, so hopefully that is a sign that both sides are working in good faith. 

Another good take.