Is Cook worth it?

[gobills404]

I’m gonna preface this by saying that yes, this account is legit and clearly has connections within the league. He does get some stuff wrong but he correctly predicts many free agent signings, trades, and extensions before they happen.

If he’s correct about this, the answer is Cook is not worth it.

[NeverOutNick]

5 hours ago, LEBills said:

Cook has a lot of leverage. As much as we all hope Ray Davis, Keon, Palmer or Moore may step up, Cook and Shakir are the only proven quality skill position players on the Bills. That is partly Beane’s fault and so makes playing hardball a bit more tricky. With how good Cook has been over the past two years, despite a couple of drops and not being a good pass protector, I would pay him the $15 mil. Some team will. 2800 yards and 24 touchdowns over the last two years is a lot of production on good efficiency. Not to mention how well he performed this postseason. Maybe the Bills try to wait to see how the season goes, hopefully that works out this year and in the long run.

I don’t think he has a lot of leverage imo. Just franchise him next year. RBs don’t last very long on average. He is either plays or loses out on money. I like cook but we don’t need him to be successful. Josh and competent coaching is all we need, the later has been suspect for years though 

[balln]

11 minutes ago, gobills404 said:

I’m gonna preface this by saying that yes, this account is legit and clearly has connections within the league. He does get some stuff wrong but he correctly predicts many free agent signings, trades, and extensions before they happen.

If he’s correct about this, the answer is Cook is not worth it.

Rumor from Rickey? Yaaaaaaaaa furrrr surrrrrre

[BarleyNY]

30 minutes ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

Players grow. They learn how to better take care of their bodies, not take clean hits, etc.

 

Pay him or trade him.  

BS. He shouldn’t be paid based on your (or his) fantasy about how much he’s grown. He’s proven only what he’s proven and that’s what his contract should reflect. It’s not difficult.

 

I would not have minded if the Bills had allowed Cook’s agent to look for a trade partner before the draft. He could have really seen what his market was. But I do not see where they asked to do so and I would not want them to allow it now. That’s not a precedent a GM should set.

 

At this point I’d want this: either the two sides come to an agreement prior to the season starting or he plays his deal out. In the future agents would understand that the time to request permission to seek a trade would be prior to the draft. If he goes the fake injury route, then I’d play hardball and seek to fine/suspend him. 

[Ballsy]

5 hours ago, Big Blitz said:

 

They have Achane.  
 

The low or no tax states have RBs locked up or will need to soon.  Or have a massive QB contract and little cap room.   
 

Vegas

Miami

Jax 

Atlanta 

Dallas has drafted - no way they pay RB

Houston - Mixon

Chargers drafted one 

Seattle - Walker and Charbonet

Cincy - Brown

Jets - Breece and Allen

Washington - Robinson 

Rams - Kyren (also looking for a deal) 

AZ - drafted Benson high 
 

Maybe Tennessee would be interested if he wanted to go there.  
 

Possibilities with no cap issues 

 

Patriots 

Washington

Titans 

 

I mean there isn’t really a better situation for him than here.   

 

 

 

 

 

What does that have to do with "high" or "low" tax states?  The "high" tax states have locked their QBs (Lions, Bengals, Bills, 49ers....).  

NFL players pay state income tax where the games are played.  The Dolphins are guaranteed at least 3 games every year (all division away games) in "high" tax states.  NFL franchises are disproportionately located in higher tax states.  States with high state income taxes have historically had larger populations (although that is changing a bit).  There are only 8 states with no state income tax, three of which don't have NFL teams - New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Wyoming.  So in addition to playing those 3 divisional games, the Dolphins often end up playing at least half of their games in higher taxed locales.

A quick look at the Dolphin's salary numbers and I'd estimate their per-game payroll is about $10M.  That means the Dolphins players (in aggregate) probably pay over $1M in income tax to NYS every time they play the Bills and Jets.

[GoBills808]

6 minutes ago, balln said:

Rumor from Rickey? Yaaaaaaaaa furrrr surrrrrre

but the eAgLEs!

[BarleyNY]

17 minutes ago, gobills404 said:

I’m gonna preface this by saying that yes, this account is legit and clearly has connections within the league. He does get some stuff wrong but he correctly predicts many free agent signings, trades, and extensions before they happen.

If he’s correct about this, the answer is Cook is not worth it.

 

Insanity, if true. And it would point to him getting some terrible advice from his agent and/or brother. Competent representation is of enormous value. 

[Buffalo716]

47 minutes ago, RoscoeParrish said:

Um Moore had 102 targets himself.

 

Moore and Palmer had 167 targets combined. DK had 108.

 

I don’t understand how you view these things. Do you think Moore and Palmer are gonna combine for 167 targets and 1300 yards in Buffalo?

Moore was in a role that he's not suited for getting force-fed the ball by bad quarterbacks .. his usage will go down his success rate will go up

 

DK has played with Russell Wilson and a re-emerged Geno Smith.. and has had a season with 140 targets and barely a thousand yards 

 

Again I think he's good I don't think he's anywhere near the top 15... And there is a good separation between the top 10.. and the 25th ranked wide receiver 

 

If DK goes for a thousand yards on 110 targets... And next year the Bills get a thousand yards out of moore and Palmer on 125 targets it's a wash ... I absolutely can see 700-800 for Palmer and 300-400 moore... Curtis Samuel was 31-46 for 250 and moore is better 

 

I'm not saying Palmer is better than DK Metcalf.. I'm saying with Josh Allen and our offense we will get comparable stats out of those two guys for what DK does... DK is not even the type of wide receiver Josh Allen has thrived with most of his career... Josh has been at his best with the John Brown's the diggs , cole beasleys... Fast twitch route runners 

 

Spreading the field makes you harder to defend and we got a good defensive tackle also.. not to mention Josh Palmer beats man coverage with route running

 

Edited August 4 by Buffalo716

[HamptonBillsfan]

33 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

BS. He shouldn’t be paid based on your (or his) fantasy about how much he’s grown. He’s proven only what he’s proven and that’s what his contract should reflect. It’s not difficult.

 

I would not have minded if the Bills had allowed Cook’s agent to look for a trade partner before the draft. He could have really seen what his market was. But I do not see where they asked to do so and I would not want them to allow it now. That’s not a precedent a GM should set.

 

At this point I’d want this: either the two sides come to an agreement prior to the season starting or he plays his deal out. In the future agents would understand that the time to request permission to seek a trade would be prior to the draft. If he goes the fake injury route, then I’d play hardball and seek to fine/suspend him. 

Just play hardball with our 2nd best player and tank the season. Beane says they are in negotiations and have not arrived at the right number. 14 or 15 million for 3 with 35 million guaranteed seems reasonable. Stop undervaluing this great, durable back. We need him for the next three years while Josh is in his prime. There is little chance we find his quality where we draft. Don’t be an efficiency expert, capologist. We overpaid Bosa, the PED Dlineman and added zero difference makers on offense.

[BarleyNY]

22 minutes ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

Just play hardball with our 2nd best player and tank the season. Beane says they are in negotiations and have not arrived at the right number. 14 or 15 million for 3 with 35 million guaranteed seems reasonable. Stop undervaluing this great, durable back. We need him for the next three years while Josh is in his prime. There is little chance we find his quality where we draft. Don’t be an efficiency expert, capologist. We overpaid Bosa, the PED Dlineman and added zero difference makers on offense.

 

Play hardball with any player that has unrealistic contract demands. And let’s talk about those other deals. Has Beane ripped off any other player? If anything I think he’s been on the high side with many. I don’t believe that he singled Cook to start being cheap. So it’s likely that this is on Cook/Cook’s agent. GMs can’t roll over every time a player has a fit over not getting what they want. Do it once and the agents will be doing it forever. Or at least until the GM gets fired, which they’d be on the path for. 

Edited August 4 by BarleyNY

[HamptonBillsfan]

1 hour ago, gobills404 said:

I’m gonna preface this by saying that yes, this account is legit and clearly has connections within the league. He does get some stuff wrong but he correctly predicts many free agent signings, trades, and extensions before they happen.

If he’s correct about this, the answer is Cook is not worth it.

This assertion is obviously manufactured by someone who doesn’t value Cook. Why would Cook jump up to 20 million when he asked for 15million and hasn’t gotten an offer as big as 15.  Tell Ricky he’s lost all credibility and shouldn’t post anymore.

[BarleyNY]

Just now, HamptonBillsfan said:

This assertion is obviously manufactured by someone who doesn’t value Cook. Why would Cook jump up to 20 million when he asked for 15million and hasn’t gotten an offer as big as 15.  Tell Ricky he’s lost all credibility and shouldn’t post anymore.

Sometimes teams leak stuff like this when negotiations get contentious, often when players are holding out/in. Sometimes it’s true, sometimes it’s inflated. 

[ScottishBills]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

This is b*ll*cks.

 

🤣🤣

Standard issue Gooner debating skills

 

The Bills and everyone else manages to see this. Just a few left who are chained to their view because he (and he does!) score some sexy touchdowns. 

 

He is a (relatively speaking) smaller back who ended up with niggles in 2023 because he couldn't take the workload. They dialled it back in 2024 and he remained smooth and quick almost all year. 

 

And if it was a good idea for him to play 75% of snaps, either or a physical or tactical level, the Bills would very likely do it. They don't seem to think it's bollocks 🤷🏽‍♂️

Edited August 4 by ScottishBills

[ScottishBills]

24 minutes ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

Just play hardball with our 2nd best player and tank the season. Beane says they are in negotiations and have not arrived at the right number. 14 or 15 million for 3 with 35 million guaranteed seems reasonable. Stop undervaluing this great, durable back. We need him for the next three years while Josh is in his prime. There is little chance we find his quality where we draft. Don’t be an efficiency expert, capologist. We overpaid Bosa, the PED Dlineman and added zero difference makers on offense.

 

Isn't Ray Davis our second best player!?

He averages 150+ yards a game in a starting role 

 

(Behind that OL, with that QB and with other backs to take the load off him so he doesn't break down)

 

Cook is a heck of a player, and he improved last season for sure. But ain't no-one confusing him for Saquon, Henry or CMC as far as being a game wrecker in his own right. 

[LEBills]

1 hour ago, NeverOutNick said:

I don’t think he has a lot of leverage imo. Just franchise him next year. RBs don’t last very long on average. He is either plays or loses out on money. I like cook but we don’t need him to be successful. Josh and competent coaching is all we need, the later has been suspect for years though 

I think you are underestimating things. There is a reason Beane seemed to complain that Cook is holding in. He sees things both short term and long term. Cook will play this season, probably week 1. But GMs and coaches are control freaks and don’t like the unpredictability going into the regular season. On top of that, Shakir is probably questionable for week 1. So going into Week 1 vs the Ravens they could have questionable statuses for their top RB and WR from last year. 
 

Long term, Beane will either have to plan to let him walk and fill the position someway else. If Davis, Keon, or Palmer don’t emerge as difference makers this year, that leaves Shakir as the only proven skill position difference maker on your roster. And would be something Beane would have to spend free agency and the draft trying to replace. If he franchises him it will just be to get a long term contract done. The franchise tag is likely to be 15 million plus next year for running backs anyway which would be fully guaranteed and a tough contract to workaround with the cap. For a team that values consistency, that seems onerous. 
 

Whatever happens, it will be interesting.

[GunnerBill]

12 minutes ago, ScottishBills said:

 

🤣🤣

Standard issue Gooner debating skills

 

The Bills and everyone else manages to see this. Just a few left who are chained to their view because he (and he does!) score some sexy touchdowns. 

 

He is a (relatively speaking) smaller back who ended up with niggles in 2023 because he couldn't take the workload. They dialled it back in 2024 and he remained smooth and quick almost all year. 

 

And if it was a good idea for him to play 75% of snaps, either or a physical or tactical level, the Bills would very likely do it. They don't seem to think it's bollocks 🤷🏽‍♂️

 

They dialled his rushes down by 30 and he played a game fewer. It equates to about one rush per game. Which I think we can safely attribute to the Bills being a 13-3 football team and load managing across their roster rather than one that was balls to the wall the whole home stretch in 2023 to make the post season. 

 

The "oh he is too small" is something dinosaurs stuck in the 1990s say. And I am not even banging the table to keep Cook. But he could take a larger workload, his size does not hold him back at all. He wins because he has elite vision.

 

 

[HamptonBillsfan]

1 minute ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

This assertion is obviously manufactured by someone who doesn’t value Cook. Why would Cook jump up to 20 million when he asked for 15million and hasn’t gotten an offer as big as 15.  Tell Ricky he’s lost all credibility and shouldn’t post anymore.

 

4 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

 

Play hardball with any player that has unrealistic contract demands. And let’s talk about those other deals. Has Beane ripped off any other player? If anything I think he’s been on the high side with many. I don’t believe that he singled Cook to start being cheap. So it’s likely that this is on Cook/Cook’s agent. GMs can’t roll over every time a player has a fit over not getting what they want. Do it once and they’ll be doing it forever. Or at least until they get fired, which they’d be on the path for. 

Your problem is you’re not correct in your personnel evaluation of this player and impact on the team. Yes,Beane is not willing to pay RBs before their contract demands it. How can you not acknowledge Beane hasn’t extended any RBs or even offered them a 2nd deal other than an occasional inexpensive role player on a one year deal. He wants Cook to take the hometown discount.We’ve never had a RB as good as Cook since Thurman,30 years ago.Don’t demonize Cook or his agents, they deserve a second contract and the market dictates, given Cook’s production, a number between 14 or 15 for 3 years. Deal with it.

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, LEBills said:

 

Long term, Beane will either have to plan to let him walk and fill the position someway else. If Davis, Keon, or Palmer don’t emerge as difference makers this year, that leaves Shakir as the only proven skill position difference maker on your roster.

 

This is exactly the point. If the Bills can get difference making explosive plays from one of their pass catchers they should absolutely not pay James Cook. But they haven't had that. The only guy on the offense who makes explosive plays aside from Josh is Cook. If that is still the case come February / March you have to ask what is the best way of securing that for your football team in 2026. I very much doubt a wide receiver who is anything like a slam dunk to give you that hits FA.... so you are either left with the option to trade an asset for one and then pay them (the DK Metcalf debate all over again) or you pay Cook to provide them from the running back position. I think paying a running back is absolutely sub-optimal in this NFL. It might be slightly less sub-optimal than leaving Josh with nobody beyond himself to make explosive plays. 

[HamptonBillsfan]

17 minutes ago, ScottishBills said:

 

Isn't Ray Davis our second best player!?

He averages 150+ yards a game in a starting role 

 

(Behind that OL, with that QB and with other backs to take the load off him so he doesn't break down)

 

Cook is a heck of a player, and he improved last season for sure. But ain't no-one confusing him for Saquon, Henry or CMC as far as being a game wrecker in his own right. 

Stop with the Saquon stuff. It’s not true, you’re too gullible to be taken seriously.

[ScottishBills]

4 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

They dialled his rushes down by 30 and he played a game fewer. It equates to about one rush per game. Which I think we can safely attribute to the Bills being a 13-3 football team and load managing across their roster rather than one that was balls to the wall the whole home stretch in 2023 to make the post season. 

 

The "oh he is too small" is something dinosaurs stuck in the 1990s say. And I am not even banging the table to keep Cook. But he could take a larger workload, his size does not hold him back at all. He wins because he has elite vision.

 

 

 

Fair enough, all reasonable points. Not sure I agree, but for interest why do you think then that the Bills don't use him more? Why is he not up at 70%+ like the big boys?

They must have a reason for keeping him down below 50%  and they must be at least as good as you at evaluating that?

 

To be honest I thought earlier in the season it was just management, keep him fresh for the postseason, but then we got there and right enough - 50% again. So it was a fixed plan by all appearances 

 

Not on the wind up - what do those who think he can take a higher workload think is the reason the Bills disagree?