Is Cook worth it?

[BarleyNY]

6 minutes ago, eball said:

 

You’re only proving my point.  We let the guys who have to do it for a living (Beane) negotiate good contracts that reward the player while also protecting the team.  Cook was never going to get 15M but he got a very fair raise and contract and acted like a professional the whole time, while many fans acted like little babies.

 

 

If that’s what you think, rather than what you said in your previous reply, then we do agree. And you seem to agree with my earlier post as well. 

[BarleyNY]

4 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

You mean like Dawson Knox having the 3rd highest cap hit on the team?

Knox is an entirely separate issue from Cook. If you re-read my post you’ll notice that I was very specific to praise Beane for his work on this particular contract.

 

So I assume you don’t like his contract. I thought his original extension was an overpay, though not as egregious as most here thought. I called it a “modest overpay” at the time. Since then it has been reduced to a very reasonable contract IMO. 

 

His cash pay this season is $9M. I’m not sure how anyone argues with that. His cap hit is high, but that’s more a function of cap management rather than his current pay. It could easily be lowered if and when the Bills choose to do so. 

[Magox]

On 8/4/2025 at 10:11 PM, SCBills said:

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.  
 

Even if the Bills had paid Cook $15M a year it would not be determinant for the Bills retaining those guys.

 

This isn't an either/or situation.

 

 

 

 

[HappyDays]

4 hours ago, Negan said:

Yes, Ray Davis stinks.  

 

Here's a black and white example of the difference between Davis and Cook:

 

I mean it's pretty much the exact same offensive and defensive play call on each attempt. Davis gets stuffed on his attempt, Cook scores a 44 yard TD on his.

 

The people that said Davis could replicate Cook's production in this offense were just flat out wrong. So are the people that said Cook's TD production last year was a fluke. Okay maybe a bit early to take a victory lap on that but for right now he is definitely on track to meet or exceed his 16 rushing TDs from last year.

 

Edited September 15 by HappyDays

[Mat68]

That 44 yard run was the best of his career.  When they go spread he is a nightmare vs man.  That big play vs Baltimore was just as impressive. 

[Charles Romes]

Look at what the chiefs have been rolling out at running back and look what it’s done to their offense. That’s what you get when you conclude an RB of the stature of James Cook is fungible.  

[DrDawkinstein]

Bad news guys:

 

Cook only played 46% of the snaps on Sunday. TOTAL BOTCH JOB BY BEANE RE-SIGNING THIS BUM!

[BullBuchanan]

On 9/15/2025 at 12:01 PM, HappyDays said:

 

Here's a black and white example of the difference between Davis and Cook:

 

I mean it's pretty much the exact same offensive and defensive play call on each attempt. Davis gets stuffed on his attempt, Cook scores a 44 yard TD on his.

 

The people that said Davis could replicate Cook's production in this offense were just flat out wrong. So are the people that said Cook's TD production last year was a fluke. Okay maybe a bit early to take a victory lap on that but for right now he is definitely on track to meet or exceed his 16 rushing TDs from last year.

 

On Cook's run he has a clean cutback lane to to the right and the blocker come in the clean up the defender.

On Davis's run, the defender is unblocked and there is no cutback lane because the right side of the line has collapsed.

Cook made an incredible move on the second level that isn't in Davis' arsenal, but the difference between getting stopped at the line there is more of a story of offensive line play than anything. Torrence failed to get to the second level to take on the blocker on Davis' run, so he's virtually out of the play. On Cook's run, he makes it to the second level to wall off the defender. That's the difference.

 

Edited September 17 by BullBuchanan

[transient]

Cook to me is Kamara light. Not as physical a build as Kamara but a tougher runner than you'd expect. He has the gliding acceleration that I think is hard for defenders to key on, has the lateral escapability, has the receiving skills (when there's no lapses in concentration). I'm not a fan of paying big money for RBs, but I have no problem with the Bills paying what they're paying for Cook's skill set.

Edited September 17 by transient

[Low Positive]

On 9/15/2025 at 1:17 PM, Mat68 said:

That 44 yard run was the best of his career.  When they go spread he is a nightmare vs man.  That big play vs Baltimore was just as impressive. 

That run against SF in the snow last year is up there.

[OrangeBills]

On 9/15/2025 at 8:41 AM, eball said:

Most 40+ TD runs in the league since ‘22 (5).

 

 

Feels like Derrick Henry has that many against the Bills alone, but I like your point!

[Cash]

21 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

On Cook's run he has a clean cutback lane to to the right and the blocker come in the clean up the defender.

On Davis's run, the defender is unblocked and there is no cutback lane because the right side of the line has collapsed.

Cook made an incredible move on the second level that isn't in Davis' arsenal, but the difference between getting stopped at the line there is more of a story of offensive line play than anything. Torrence failed to get to the second level to take on the blocker on Davis' run, so he's virtually out of the play. On Cook's run, he makes it to the second level to wall off the defender. That's the difference.

 

I get your point, but aren’t you ultimately saying that with equivalent blocking, Cook’s 44-yard TD would be Ray Davis’ 4 yard gain? I think the point is that Cook brings a lot of value to the offense, above and beyond the scheme or the play of the line. And I agree with that point. 

[Ya Digg?]

53 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Bad news guys:

 

Cook only played 46% of the snaps on Sunday. TOTAL BOTCH JOB BY BEANE RE-SIGNING THIS BUM!

No no, this is only an offseason bad news situation, when we trash all the Bills players we believe have somehow done us wrong.  During the season his usage is perfect!

 

Come on, you know this, you're better than that....get your head out of your a**!!!!!! 😄

Edited September 17 by Ya Digg?

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

He’s been the 2nd best player on the team for two and a half years. He’s probably worth more than anyone will pay a RB. He’s definitely worth what they did pay.

[TBBills Fan]

On 9/15/2025 at 1:01 PM, HappyDays said:

 

Here's a black and white example of the difference between Davis and Cook:

 

I mean it's pretty much the exact same offensive and defensive play call on each attempt. Davis gets stuffed on his attempt, Cook scores a 44 yard TD on his.

 

The people that said Davis could replicate Cook's production in this offense were just flat out wrong. So are the people that said Cook's TD production last year was a fluke. Okay maybe a bit early to take a victory lap on that but for right now he is definitely on track to meet or exceed his 16 rushing TDs from last year.

 

Absolutely agree that is why I also was willing to die I. The we need to pay Cook Hill. 

 

He is the second most important individual to our offenses success

[PromoTheRobot]

On 9/15/2025 at 1:01 PM, HappyDays said:

 

Here's a black and white example of the difference between Davis and Cook:

 

I mean it's pretty much the exact same offensive and defensive play call on each attempt. Davis gets stuffed on his attempt, Cook scores a 44 yard TD on his.

 

The people that said Davis could replicate Cook's production in this offense were just flat out wrong. So are the people that said Cook's TD production last year was a fluke. Okay maybe a bit early to take a victory lap on that but for right now he is definitely on track to meet or exceed his 16 rushing TDs from last year.

 

 

Not denying Cook is superior to Ray Davis. He absolutely is. But this comparison clip is total BS.

 

Watch carefully. It's O'Cyrus Torrence's job to come across and block the hole open. When Davis ran the play, the center and inside rusher block his path and Davis gets swallowed up. When Cook runs the play, Torrence makes the key block springing Cook. So this is not as "black and white" as @HappyDays claims. It's more an example of a play blocked correctly versus not.

[TheBrownBear]

7 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Not denying Cook is superior to Ray Davis. He absolutely is. But this comparison clip is total BS.

 

Watch carefully. It's O'Cyrus Torrence's job to come across and block the hole open. When Davis ran the play, the center and inside rusher block his path and Davis gets swallowed up. When Cook runs the play, Torrence makes the key block springing Cook. So this is not as "black and white" as @HappyDays claims. It's more an example of a play blocked correctly versus not.

I think you're partially right, but there's a lot of subtlety that may be at play here.  You can see the difference in the aggressiveness with which 44 attacks the hole in the two plays. The slight hesitation on the Cook run allows Cook the space for the initial jump cut and for Torrence to get a block on him.  On the other hand, 44 attacks the hole without hesitation and clocks Davis.  Is this just a case of 44 playing the Davis run better, or is the hesitation on the Cook play because he fears and respects (or probably even coached to be prepared for) Cook's explosiveness and slipperiness such that he takes that tenth of a second to breakdown in anticipation of Cook's change of direction?  Whereas, no fear of that with Ray Davis?

[RochesterLifer]

On 9/15/2025 at 12:01 PM, HappyDays said:

 

Here's a black and white example of the difference between Davis and Cook:

 

I mean it's pretty much the exact same offensive and defensive play call on each attempt. Davis gets stuffed on his attempt, Cook scores a 44 yard TD on his.

 

The people that said Davis could replicate Cook's production in this offense were just flat out wrong. So are the people that said Cook's TD production last year was a fluke. Okay maybe a bit early to take a victory lap on that but for right now he is definitely on track to meet or exceed his 16 rushing TDs from last year.

 

I disagree. What I see is a great comparison of videos showing the importance of quality offensive line play. The first video shows the D-line winning with the stunt, leaving Davis nowhere to go. The second video shows our o-line picking up the stunt, giving Cook room to operate.

 

Of course, from there, Cook worked serious magic, showing how dangerous he is. If he was the RB in the first video, he would have been stuffed, like Davis.

Edited September 17 by RochesterLifer

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, TheBrownBear said:

I think you're partially right, but there's a lot of subtlety that may be at play here.  You can see the difference in the aggressiveness with which 44 attacks the hole in the two plays. The slight hesitation on the Cook run allows Cook the space for the initial jump cut and for Torrence to get a block on him.  On the other hand, 44 attacks the hole without hesitation and clocks Davis.  Is this just a case of 44 playing the Davis run better, or is the hesitation on the Cook play because he fears and respects (or probably even coached to be prepared for) Cook's explosiveness and slipperiness such that he takes that tenth of a second to breakdown in anticipation of Cook's change of direction?  Whereas, no fear of that with Ray Davis?

 

Torrence is supposed to block 44. He fails on the Davis run but succeeds on the Cook run. It's that simple.

[TheBrownBear]

24 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Torrence is supposed to block 44. He fails on the Davis run but succeeds on the Cook run. It's that simple.

On second viewing, you're right. The defender attempts to "break down" on both plays, he just gets knicked by Torrence on Cook's run.  I retract my earlier statement.