Mini-Camp: A James Cook Barometer

[Stenbar]

On 6/8/2025 at 10:45 PM, SoonerBillsFan said:

Are you sure?  I want to see Davis for a full season. 

I remember hearing the same thing from Kenneth Davis fans..😜

[BillsFanForever19]

15 hours ago, Stenbar said:

I remember hearing the same thing from Kenneth Davis fans..😜

 

I think Kenneth Davis was a more complete RB than Ray Davis is. Ray is a good change of pace back with more power than Cook. But I find it ridiculous to want Davis to start over Cook. Or that we'd be fine without Cook bc we have Davis.

 

He's a completely different RB. He's a 4.55, 3.9 yard average guy - who's got average vision and runs kind of tight. He was brought in to replace Nyheim Hines' roster spot and the role that Zack Moss had before him. And he was pretty good last season in that Zack Moss, Frank Gore role for us. But at no point did I think "we should be playing Ray over James".

 

Ray Davis was not Drafted in the 4th Round to be the heir apparent to James Cook. If/when James Cook leaves Buffalo, his true replacement will most likely come on Day 2 of the 2026 Draft and will be a similar style RB with speed and elusiveness.

Edited 4 hours ago by BillsFanForever19

[The Firebaugh Kid]

11 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Wow. It's almost as if people who were freaking out and convinced he was going to hold out regular season games were overreacting...

 

He also posted today that he's going to be holding Youth Football Camps in Buffalo and Rochester on 7/8 and 7/9. Which would be an odd thing to do in the backyard of the team you'd be holding out on.

Exactly. He was just at the Newark Wegmans like two weeks ago doing a meet and greet thing for some apple promotion.

[MikePJ76]

7 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

Fascinating that Cook's 2025 $5.3M salary (+$75k workout bonus) accounts for ~92% of his 4 year rookie contract's overall reported $5.8M value...

 

He's on track to have earned just shy of $10M when he becomes eligible for FA in 2026. Why is his deal reported the way it is (on Spotrac)? ONLY guaranteed $ being accounted for in published valuation? Even in recent news, his 4-yr deal is reported to be under $6M. What the heck?

 

 

He is currently like the 42nd highest ish  paid running back in the league.

[MR8]

We'll know soon enough if he shows up ... Either way I'm in IDGAF mode now.... If he shows, run the ***** into the ground. Too many shades of his brother here. Terrible advice putting it out publicly that he feels "disconnected from the team and the city".

 

I mean I can understand how as a person he would feel disconnected from the team because they don't want to pay him, and the city because the overwhelming feeling out there is that he's not worth the money he thinks he is. It's human nature that if you think you're worth something and literally nobody else does, you're going to feel bum hurt by it... That said, this is what agents are for. Manage your clients expectations and let them understand what the real world is, not the fantasy world that they're living in.

 

I would have been fine with this guy moved for a fifth or sixth during the draft for this exact reason. It's a distraction, and frankly we're going to let him walk for nothing after this year. I just hope he ends up playing for us so we get some sort of value out of the money we're going to end up having to pay him on the last year of his deal.

 

For me the smart move would have been to move him for literally anything, let him be somebody else's headache, and draft of running back to stick in the backfield in an RBC. Ty Johnson is a fine piece as a scatt back receiver, Ray Davis show to me he can absolutely be a receiver out of the backfield and he's more of that thunder to Ty Johnson's flash... I'll be honest they were plays that I was a little disappointed in Ray Davis's ability to run over guys, but value above replacement, these two dudes 100% can be a tandem in the NFL without cook in the mix.

I'm on the train that no running back is for 15 million... Not even Henry or CMC... But definitely not Cook. I m an we pay Ty Johnson what $1.2M.... Is Cook 13 times better than him? I'd he really $13.8M better? The answer is ***** NO. Sure he's better, but in smaller degrees than people want to admit, and the financial trade is laughably lopsided here.

 

If this ***** nut wants to talk through the media to "send a message", then he's not smart enough to understand the message that's being sent back to him already. It's "bro we love you, but we don't value you like that. Let's get this done and you can go get paid next year like Gabe Davis.". The bills are known for letting dudes test the market. They do it with starters and scrubs alike... "Here's our number, go check the market and if we can make a deal happen we'd love to have you back.". ***** we did it with Ty this off-season, we let him see what the market was and he chose to come back.

 

I understand getting paid before your career is over, especially in a sport like football, and especially at a position like running back. That said, there's an absolute tone deaf imaginary world he is living in if he thinks he can stronger the team into giving him whatever he wants. So I guess I just don't understand what the end game is. He's not going to get paid what he thinks he's worth by the bills. It's just not going to happen and they've said as much. Stirring up more problems, I mean what does he want to be released? Then he should have just asked for that before the draft and before teams chewed up all of their salary camp space. If that's his end game he should have played his cards entirely differently to get off the roster when there was a huge amount of salary cap space that he could have been a part of. Now teams are full, rosters are full, caps are full, he has no play here. It's just ignorant and pathetic.

[NewEra]

On 6/7/2025 at 4:45 PM, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

It will be more than 11m. Josh Jacobs makes 12. Alvin Kamara turns 30 in a month and he makes 12.5. Derrick Henry is only making 15m bc he'll be 32 years old in the Playoffs this season and has had recurring foot problems. Otherwise he'd be making closer to the 21m Saquon Barkley makes.

 

And that's not taking into account the yearly rise in salary cap that results in the yearly rise in salary's.

 

I assure you, James Cook whether it's here or elsewhere, will be signing for more than 11m per.

I think it’ll be closer to 11 than to 21 but only time will tell

[MikePJ76]

8 minutes ago, MR8 said:

We'll know soon enough if he shows up ... Either way I'm in IDGAF mode now.... If he shows, run the ***** into the ground. Too many shades of his brother here. Terrible advice putting it out publicly that he feels "disconnected from the team and the city".

 

I mean I can understand how as a person he would feel disconnected from the team because they don't want to pay him, and the city because the overwhelming feeling out there is that he's not worth the money he thinks he is. It's human nature that if you think you're worth something and literally nobody else does, you're going to feel bum hurt by it... That said, this is what agents are for. Manage your clients expectations and let them understand what the real world is, not the fantasy world that they're living in.

 

I would have been fine with this guy moved for a fifth or sixth during the draft for this exact reason. It's a distraction, and frankly we're going to let him walk for nothing after this year. I just hope he ends up playing for us so we get some sort of value out of the money we're going to end up having to pay him on the last year of his deal.

 

Good Lord.

 

People have lost their minds.  

[SoonerBillsFan]

6 hours ago, Stenbar said:

I remember hearing the same thing from Kenneth Davis fans..😜

I didn't and this isn't the same,but nice try.

[GunnerBill]

20 minutes ago, MR8 said:

We'll know soon enough if he shows up ... Either way I'm in IDGAF mode now.... If he shows, run the ***** into the ground. Too many shades of his brother here. Terrible advice putting it out publicly that he feels "disconnected from the team and the city".

 

I mean I can understand how as a person he would feel disconnected from the team because they don't want to pay him, and the city because the overwhelming feeling out there is that he's not worth the money he thinks he is. It's human nature that if you think you're worth something and literally nobody else does, you're going to feel bum hurt by it... That said, this is what agents are for. Manage your clients expectations and let them understand what the real world is, not the fantasy world that they're living in.

 

I would have been fine with this guy moved for a fifth or sixth during the draft for this exact reason. It's a distraction, and frankly we're going to let him walk for nothing after this year. I just hope he ends up playing for us so we get some sort of value out of the money we're going to end up having to pay him on the last year of his deal.

 

For me the smart move would have been to move him for literally anything, let him be somebody else's headache, and draft of running back to stick in the backfield in an RBC. Ty Johnson is a fine piece as a scatt back receiver, Ray Davis show to me he can absolutely be a receiver out of the backfield and he's more of that thunder to Ty Johnson's flash... I'll be honest they were plays that I was a little disappointed in Ray Davis's ability to run over guys, but value above replacement, these two dudes 100% can be a tandem in the NFL without cook in the mix.

I'm on the train that no running back is for 15 million... Not even Henry or CMC... But definitely not Cook. I m an we pay Ty Johnson what $1.2M.... Is Cook 13 times better than him? I'd he really $13.8M better? The answer is ***** NO. Sure he's better, but in smaller degrees than people want to admit, and the financial trade is laughably lopsided here.

 

If this ***** nut wants to talk through the media to "send a message", then he's not smart enough to understand the message that's being sent back to him already. It's "bro we love you, but we don't value you like that. Let's get this done and you can go get paid next year like Gabe Davis.". The bills are known for letting dudes test the market. They do it with starters and scrubs alike... "Here's our number, go check the market and if we can make a deal happen we'd love to have you back.". ***** we did it with Ty this off-season, we let him see what the market was and he chose to come back.

 

I understand getting paid before your career is over, especially in a sport like football, and especially at a position like running back. That said, there's an absolute tone deaf imaginary world he is living in if he thinks he can stronger the team into giving him whatever he wants. So I guess I just don't understand what the end game is. He's not going to get paid what he thinks he's worth by the bills. It's just not going to happen and they've said as much. Stirring up more problems, I mean what does he want to be released? Then he should have just asked for that before the draft and before teams chewed up all of their salary camp space. If that's his end game he should have played his cards entirely differently to get off the roster when there was a huge amount of salary cap space that he could have been a part of. Now teams are full, rosters are full, caps are full, he has no play here. It's just ignorant and pathetic.

 

 

First, Cook didn't say he feels "disconnected." That was Schefter's word to try and describe where he thinks the relationship is at. 

 

As for moving him for a 5th or 6th during the draft..... do you think that pick is more valuable to the Bills in 2025 than James Cook? I think unlikely. And they will get that value back next year in terms of a comp pick if he walks and depending on what else we do in free agency. 

 

And on "he should have asked before the draft" trust me he did. The Bills and Cook had conversations pre-draft and his agent was testing the market.

 

What Cook is doing is he is maximising his leverage while he has it. It's nearly at the end of the road for that leverage and come training camp he will be here in some form. 

 

Nothing he has done or is doing deserves the vitriol in your post. 

[Long Suffering Fan]

5 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

 

First, Cook didn't say he feels "disconnected." That was Schefter's word to try and describe where he thinks the relationship is at. 

 

As for moving him for a 5th or 6th during the draft..... do you think that pick is more valuable to the Bills in 2025 than James Cook? I think unlikely. And they will get that value back next year in terms of a comp pick if he walks and depending on what else we do in free agency. 

 

And on "he should have asked before the draft" trust me he did. The Bills and Cook had conversations pre-draft and his agent was testing the market.

 

What Cook is doing is he is maximising his leverage while he has it. It's nearly at the end of the road for that leverage and come training camp he will be here in some form. 

 

Nothing he has done or is doing deserves the vitriol in your post. 

 

I'm with Gunner on this.  As much as I love draft picks, a 5th or a 6th?  I would much rather have Cook for another year.

 

As much as some people pooh, pooh culture, this might be a spot where it helps.  The family culture and the bond at least *seems* so strong on this team that it is hard to believe that this will get that ugly.  Anything can happen, but I would expect that he will be back and play out the year.  Meanwhile, I have no hard feelings towards Cook that is trying to use what leverage he has in order to get paid.

[C.Biscuit97]

11 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

He'd be an absolute moron to hold out, A. he's a RB.

B. The Bills don't play around , they're an elite organization and won't be held hostage by a player, they'll make the right decision for the team

C. It kills his value, not only this year but with any future team, looking at him as a Me first player. 

Leveon Bell is the closest comp and his value was much larger, Cook isn’t even a consensus top 10 back

You’re too emotional. 
 

the guy has the best leverage of his career, saw every other player in his draft class get paid, and doesn’t want to play on the last year of his deal as a RB. It makes total sense from his side. Guy barely talks and has gotten better every year. He was the best player in the title game. 
 

I like Ray Davis (great dude off the field as well) and Johnson but people are going to be surprised when there is a drop off if/ when they have to play more. It’s crazy but maybe the guy who was 3rd best at breaking long runs last year is important to this team. 

3 minutes ago, Long Suffering Fan said:

 

I'm with Gunner on this.  As much as I love draft picks, a 5th or a 6th?  I would much rather have Cook for another year.

 

As much as some people pooh, pooh culture, this might be a spot where it helps.  The family culture and the bond at least *seems* so strong on this team that it is hard to believe that this will get that ugly.  Anything can happen, but I would expect that he will be back and play out the year.  Meanwhile, I have no hard feelings towards Cook that is trying to use what leverage he has in order to get paid.

Agreed and I think both sides want to make a deal. But I get it from both sides. TJ watt and Hendrickson are doing the same thing. It’s part of negotiating. 
 

 

[eball]

Good article in the Buff News this morning about Cook, and what the Bills should do.  A compromise would be to give Cook a bridge deal for the next two seasons that pays him in the low 20s with most of it guaranteed.  Doesn't break the bank and Cook gets one more shot at a big payday afterwards.  Hope it gets done.

 

[Bullfrog]

Man, I am depressed. I didn't realize that cook was a problem and is just like his brother. Now I learned that he should be traded for a 5th when we could get a better comp pick. 

Then I find out we wasted a 4th in Ray because he can never get better and be a starter. Bean should be fired drafting a permanent back up in the 4th. Does Ray know he has no shot? He will just be replaced in the next draft?

 

Oh and let's not get into how terrible our wr's are and how the bills only have slot wr's.

 

God awful team

[GunnerBill]

20 minutes ago, eball said:

Good article in the Buff News this morning about Cook, and what the Bills should do.  A compromise would be to give Cook a bridge deal for the next two seasons that pays him in the low 20s with most of it guaranteed.  Doesn't break the bank and Cook gets one more shot at a big payday afterwards.  Hope it gets done.

 

 

I said it the other day I think there is a deal that is doable at camp that gives him some injury guarantees without a long term commitment with a declinable option next year. It would essentially serve the same purpose as a one year bridge to whatever happens in 2026. 

[DrDawkinstein]

1 hour ago, MikePJ76 said:

Good Lord.

 

People have lost their minds.  

 

For real. So much hate and vitriol over nothing. It's so weird to me.

[Beck Water]

9 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

Fascinating that Cook's 2025 $5.3M salary (+$75k workout bonus) accounts for ~92% of his 4 year rookie contract's overall reported $5.8M value...

 

He's on track to have earned just shy of $10M when he becomes eligible for FA in 2026. Why is his deal reported the way it is (on Spotrac)? ONLY guaranteed $ being accounted for in published valuation? Even in recent news, his 4-yr deal is reported to be under $6M. What the heck?

 

Always read the fine print.  In the case of Spotrac, always read the "Contract Notes" in fine print at the bottom of the page.  They're essential for understanding what's going on.

 

 

On Cook's page, the fine print says "2025 Proven Performance Escalator Available (3rd Tier)."

I'm sure Spotrac explains what that means somewhere, but a quick Google indicates that a 2025 Proven Performace Escalator is equivalent to a 2nd round tender, which is ~$5M

 

That's why the 4 year deal is accurately reported to be the  4 year, $5,832,057 2nd round rookoie deal he signed with the Bills, where his original salary would have been ~$1.5M (total cap hit $1.8M).

 

AND it's also accurately reported that his earnings will now be just under $10M - because the performance escalator jumped his 2025 salary up by about $5.3M

 

Hope this helps.

[Jerry Jabber]

 

[McMuffin]

I’m confident something will get done since he is in town and will be attending the mandatory minicamp.  

[YoloinOhio]

4 minutes ago, Jerry Jabber said:

 

Schefty needs to stick to reporting on  medical records 

[DrDawkinstein]

6 minutes ago, Jerry Jabber said:

 

 

Not surprised. It's in his best interests to show up and show out this year. Plus, nothing he's done has indicated being as unhappy as even Hendrickson or Watt.