Is Cook worth it?

[DrDawkinstein]

 

[Billsfed1]

8 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

It’s a well deserved spot.  If he can replicate those numbers again this year, I’ll be willing to say “he’s worth it” 😂

[Richard Noggin]

2 hours ago, Billsfed1 said:

It’s a well deserved spot.  If he can replicate those numbers again this year, I’ll be willing to say “he’s worth it” 😂

 

See, I'd still (probably) argue against the Bills agreeing to the kind of contract I'm afraid Cook would demand. He's dynamic, no doubt, and a weapon with the ball in his hands. He looks really good in Brady/Kromer's rushing attack. A threat to take it to the house from anywhere on the field. 

 

My main reluctance is more philosophical with respect to roster construction: only way an RB should make WR money is if he's a 3-down beast who pass blocks and has reliable hands. The holes in Cook's game would need to be plugged to sell me on a top-3ish (for now) RB contract. And by that point he's gonna have other suitors. A team on a rookie QB contract could justify signing a guy like Cook, and it would be smart. Denver, Washington, Minnesota, etc. 

[GunnerBill]

2 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

See, I'd still (probably) argue against the Bills agreeing to the kind of contract I'm afraid Cook would demand. He's dynamic, no doubt, and a weapon with the ball in his hands. He looks really good in Brady/Kromer's rushing attack. A threat to take it to the house from anywhere on the field. 

 

My main reluctance is more philosophical with respect to roster construction: only way an RB should make WR money is if he's a 3-down beast who pass blocks and has reliable hands. The holes in Cook's game would need to be plugged to sell me on a top-3ish (for now) RB contract. And by that point he's gonna have other suitors. A team on a rookie QB contract could justify signing a guy like Cook, and it would be smart. Denver, Washington, Minnesota, etc. 

 

The Steelers just let Najee Harris walk after 4 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons but he currently averages a full yard per carry less than Cook. If Cook goes for 1,000 yards again at a healthy ypc and the Bills still let him walk it would be pretty unusual by NFL standards. Although I agree with you philosophically about the positional spend. 

[Richard Noggin]

18 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

The Steelers just let Najee Harris walk after 4 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons but he currently averages a full yard per carry less than Cook. If Cook goes for 1,000 yards again at a healthy ypc and the Bills still let him walk it would be pretty unusual by NFL standards. Although I agree with you philosophically about the positional spend. 

 

And if Cook has another productive, explosive season similar to 2024, I won't be angry or disappointed if the Bills meet his demands. But I DO think at that point it will already be too late, and he'll be priced out of Beane's comfort level. 

 

*I'd take Cook over Harris 8 times out of 10, easily. Harris is just not very dangerous, despite being well-rounded and physical. Just doesn't get up field with much urgency. Kind of Cook's opposite. 

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

And if Cook has another productive, explosive season similar to 2024, I won't be angry or disappointed if the Bills meet his demands. But I DO think at that point it will already be too late, and he'll be priced out of Beane's comfort level. 

 

*I'd take Cook over Harris 8 times out of 10, easily. Harris is just not very dangerous, despite being well-rounded and physical. Just doesn't get up field with much urgency. Kind of Cook's opposite. 

 

Yea Cook is better than Harris. Not even close. The reason for the comparison is I was trying to find an example, even in these days of devalued running backs, of a team letting a guy walk after 3 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons - which I imagined to be extremely rare. I think it is but it just happened with Harris. That is the only one I could come up with though. 

[Chandler#81]

Love me some James. Hope we can keep him after the season..