Is Cook worth it?

[Process]

1 minute ago, HappyDays said:

By the way not to spoil the James Cook thread but Ray Davis has been a total non factor this year. And the team knows it - he ended up with just 4 snaps last night. I'm at the point where I'd like to call Gore up for a game and see how it goes with him as the RB2.

 

Right now Cook is probably the #1 player on offense other than Allen that we couldn't afford to lose. That's crazy to say about a RB but the drop off from him to his backups is massive.

Johnson has also been a bit of a disappointment this year. I agree, let's see what Gore can do. 

[Big Turk]

[starrymessenger]

Couple of things I like about him. I’m impressed, and a little surprised, by his ability to gain the extra yard(s) (move the pile) after contact. And it seems to take him a single stride to go from standing still to going full speed.

[FireChans]

3 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

By the way not to spoil the James Cook thread but Ray Davis has been a total non factor this year. And the team knows it - he ended up with just 4 snaps last night. I'm at the point where I'd like to call Gore up for a game and see how it goes with him as the RB2.

 

Right now Cook is probably the #1 player on offense other than Allen that we couldn't afford to lose. That's crazy to say about a RB but the drop off from him to his backups is massive.

I think the more disappointing drop off has been Ty Johnson. I get he has 3rd down skills that gives him some role on the team, but he seems like a little bit of a waste.

 

Ray Davis at least is on a rookie deal and has had moments as a backup getting 20 plus carries.

 

Ty Johnson is at a blistering 1.6 yards per target 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Cook is earning his extension salary increase. Rousseau is not. Bernard moslty not either except for one spectacular play last night. Benford seems solid but not great. Hes good to very good 

 

Cook is the only one who is elite and he had to holdin for his money. 

 

Beane and McDermott just doesnt seem to get it. We need more stars and less high character guys.  

 

[Sojourner]

Has to be the real deal. 
 

I have him in 2 out of my 3 fantasy football leagues… The trades are rolling in. 
 

No joke, one guy has offered me Justin Jefferson in a PPR (he does have Puka and Njigba which is why he’s willing to trade). 

[HappyDays]

5 minutes ago, Process said:

Johnson has also been a bit of a disappointment this year. I agree, let's see what Gore can do. 

 

Yeah he is supposed to be our pass catching back but he has 2 drops in 3 games. I'm more confident that his issues are fixable though, there is at least a proof of concept there. With Davis he's really never shown anything that makes me confident. His vision is shaky and you can tell he is hesitant/not trusting himself when we give him the ball.

[DrDawkinstein]

7 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Beane and McDermott just doesnt seem to get it. We need more stars and less high character guys.  

 

 

Or in Cook's case, a star AND high character guy. As proven by showing up to all required activities, never asking for a trade, being with the team, and participating as much as was safe/reasonable while in the middle of contract negotiations. Also working to improve his strength and game every season we've had him.

[Cash]

1 hour ago, DrDawkinstein said:

By the time this season is over, $15M will seem reasonable.

 

By the time the next offseason is over, $17M would seem reasonable.

 

Let's not quibble over paying our stars ever again. Especially when we're paying Curtis "healthy scratch" Samuel $9M.

 

(I do wonder/worry if we see Cook hold out again in the next year or two to get his number more in line with Jonathan Taylor)

A holdout one year into a new deal is pretty unlikely - even with the biggest divas in the league, it’s simply not done. But if Cook puts up two straight 20+ TD seasons, or leads the league in rushing or scrimmage yards, it wouldn’t be crazy for him to ask the Bills for a new deal after the 2026 season. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

3 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Or in Cook's case, a star AND high character guy. As proven by showing up to all required activities, never asking for a trade, being with the team, and participating as much as was safe/reasonable while in the middle of contract negotiations. Also working to improve his strength and game every season we've had him.

100% agree!! Im sure same people that were calling him a problem are cheering his runs now

[HerdMenatlity1]

12 minutes ago, FireChans said:

I think the more disappointing drop off has been Ty Johnson. I get he has 3rd down skills that gives him some role on the team, but he seems like a little bit of a waste.

 

Ray Davis at least is on a rookie deal and has had moments as a backup getting 20 plus carries.

 

Ty Johnson is at a blistering 1.6 yards per target 

Ty is also averaging 6.1 yds per rush attempt. He is a RB, no? They've only played 3 games. Pretty sure that 1.6 avg. will go up. 

Back to the original topic, Cook is worth every dollar. You don't pay a RB that much to sit the bench. With the new contract, he should see an uptick in usage, which will affect the other RBs #s. That's not a bad thing, guys. Again, I am pretty sure that 1.6 avg. will go up as the season progresses. It's only been 3 games. 

[Einstein's Dog]

2 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

By the time this season is over, $15M will seem reasonable.

 

By the time the next offseason is over, $17M would seem reasonable.

 

Let's not quibble over paying our stars ever again. Especially when we're paying Curtis "healthy scratch" Samuel $9M.

 

(I do wonder/worry if we see Cook hold out again in the next year or two to get his number more in line with Jonathan Taylor)

And there it is, the problem with paying a complainer - the idea that they will continue in their ways.

 

We just don't say/think that about other players performing at a level at, or above, their negotiated salary.  No one fears that Benford will sit out because he didn't get hurt and is producing like a top 5 corner.  Or Shakir when he lights it up will sit next year because he is now performing above market.  

[Buffalo Junction]

1 hour ago, Cash said:

A holdout one year into a new deal is pretty unlikely - even with the biggest divas in the league, it’s simply not done. But if Cook puts up two straight 20+ TD seasons, or leads the league in rushing or scrimmage yards, it wouldn’t be crazy for him to ask the Bills for a new deal after the 2026 season. 

It’s more likely that they do a restructure that gives him guaranteed cash to keep him happy. It’s cash in hand, and Beane uses that tactic frequently to keep players content while manipulating the salary cap. 

[Warriorspikes51]

showing "workhorse" capability 

[Warriorspikes51]

Please stay healthy.   & I think Ty should be getting more snaps than Davis 

[TurfToeJam]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

 

Yeah he is supposed to be our pass catching back but he has 2 drops in 3 games. I'm more confident that his issues are fixable though, there is at least a proof of concept there. With Davis he's really never shown anything that makes me confident. His vision is shaky and you can tell he is hesitant/not trusting himself when we give him the ball.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Cook's strength coming out of college was he was good at catching the ball?  Would like to see Cook flanked out wide once in a while.  Keep him in on more 3rd downs.

[DrDawkinstein]

10 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

And there it is, the problem with paying a complainer - the idea that they will continue in their ways.

 

We just don't say/think that about other players performing at a level at, or above, their negotiated salary.  No one fears that Benford will sit out because he didn't get hurt and is producing like a top 5 corner.  Or Shakir when he lights it up will sit next year because he is now performing above market.  

 

He's already severely underpaid. Far more than anyone else. Especially your examples. 

 

I wouldnt be concerned with it if Beane just paid his one homerun hitter pick since Josh, and stopped paying guys like Curtis Samuel.

[Mister Defense]

3 hours ago, Einstein's Dog said:

And there it is, the problem with paying a complainer - the idea that they will continue in their ways.

 

We just don't say/think that about other players performing at a level at, or above, their negotiated salary.  No one fears that Benford will sit out because he didn't get hurt and is producing like a top 5 corner.  Or Shakir when he lights it up will sit next year because he is now performing above market.  

 

So, not a fan of the contract Cook received, I am assuming?

 

Digging in your heels a little, eh?

 

 

3 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

100% agree!! Im sure same people that were calling him a problem are cheering his runs now

 

Yup, or comically trying to justify their absurd, team undermining stance.

 

Or trying to come up with new reasons of why they were right all along.

 

[Chicken Boo]

On 6/10/2025 at 3:17 PM, Chicken Boo said:

Cook is a much needed weapon.  It's as simple as that.  

 

Who else on this offense, not named Allen, is a threat to do anything significant on a weekly basis?  

 

Pay your talent.  F***!

 

Welcome to the party, ladies and gents.

 

From this moment forward, believe your own eyes, please.  

[Einstein's Dog]

32 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

 

So, not a fan of the contract Cook received, I am assuming?

 

Digging in your heels a little, eh

 

I think Cooks contract is fine, it's the way he went about getting it that I didn't like. 

 

Public negotiations aren't the usual Bills way, and I hope it doesn't become a regular occurrence.