Rashod Bateman, Contract Extension: 3 year, $36.75 Million, $20 Million Guaranteed

[Big Turk]

If he can stay healthy, that will be a bargain based on his improvements last year.

[Paup 1995MVP]

5 hours ago, BigDingus said:

 

THANK YOU. 

 

I don't care what position you play, if you are a bigger part of your team's success & have more impact on the field, you should be paid accordingly. 

 

As much as people like Groot, I cannot in good conscience say he did more than James Cook... yet we were paying him $13 million last year, right around what Cook wants now, then extended him to $20 million a year.

 

And which side of the ball has everyone complained about not showing up in the playoffs last year? Oh right, the side we rewarded with extensions & bigger contracts.

 

But the side that put up the most points in franchise history, fortified by a great run game for the first time in Allen's career, and the player who everyone said should've gotten the ball more in the KC playoff game... that's the guy who we shouldn't pay simply because he's a RB?

 

Makes no sense.

You you really don’t mean all that do you?

 

Different positions in the NFL get paid on different scales.  The RB position is paid much lower relative to the DE position. 
 

James Cook is a good player.  But he ran for barely 1000 yards.  And many of his TD’s were inside the 5 yard line.  
 

Johnson and Davis could have put up similar numbers if they got the ball as much.  The O line is why our run game is so strong.  James Cook is a nice RB.  And the Bills like him.  But he is not going to get paid by us like he is Thurman Thomas reincarnated.  Just not going to happen under this regime. 

[DCofNC]

6 hours ago, BigDingus said:

 

THANK YOU. 

 

I don't care what position you play, if you are a bigger part of your team's success & have more impact on the field, you should be paid accordingly. 

 

As much as people like Groot, I cannot in good conscience say he did more than James Cook... yet we were paying him $13 million last year, right around what Cook wants now, then extended him to $20 million a year.

 

And which side of the ball has everyone complained about not showing up in the playoffs last year? Oh right, the side we rewarded with extensions & bigger contracts.

 

But the side that put up the most points in franchise history, fortified by a great run game for the first time in Allen's career, and the player who everyone said should've gotten the ball more in the KC playoff game... that's the guy who we shouldn't pay simply because he's a RB?

 

Makes no sense.

It makes perfect sense, there is a market price for replacement.  Where some positions are in higher demand, the price will be higher.

—- by your logic ——

 

RB is valued higher than a kicker, but kickers out score them every year, and there’s only 32 jobs in the whole league, clearly kickers should cost more, make it make sense! 

[Alphadawg7]

6 hours ago, BigDingus said:

 

THANK YOU. 

 

I don't care what position you play, if you are a bigger part of your team's success & have more impact on the field, you should be paid accordingly. 

 

As much as people like Groot, I cannot in good conscience say he did more than James Cook... yet we were paying him $13 million last year, right around what Cook wants now, then extended him to $20 million a year.

 

And which side of the ball has everyone complained about not showing up in the playoffs last year? Oh right, the side we rewarded with extensions & bigger contracts.

 

But the side that put up the most points in franchise history, fortified by a great run game for the first time in Allen's career, and the player who everyone said should've gotten the ball more in the KC playoff game... that's the guy who we shouldn't pay simply because he's a RB?

 

Makes no sense.

 

Then who plays DE?  What DE are you getting off the street for less that can be at least at Groots level?  Much easier and cheaper to find a RB than it is DE's.  This isnt about who to pay...its about who is playing in their spot if you don't pay them and what does that cost and what is the return on the investment.  

 

Not paying Groot and replacing him with a cheap FA is going to hurt more than not paying Cook and letting Ray Davis and Ty fill the duties.  

[NewEra]

58 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

You’re right, he’s $10 million a year, not $12 million 🙄

 

the bigger point I’m trying to make is the impact these guys have on the game. I’ll ask again, what would be considered a successful season stats wise for Palmer (and for Bateman, considering this thread is about his deal)? We know that Cook has an impact on every game, and at this point we are all hoping Palmer has an impact on some games.

 

Also, not really sure how comparing yards is a new thing….1400 yards is 1400 yards 

Cook is a RB playing behind a very good OL- of course he has an impact.  He’s a very good RB, our best for sure.  
 

the comparison of RB and WR yards/salaries is not a thing.  RBs get paid much less- so that’s why the comparison you’re making is irrelevant.  
 

agree to disagree

[Thurman#1]

12 hours ago, BigDingus said:

 

THANK YOU. 

 

I don't care what position you play, if you are a bigger part of your team's success & have more impact on the field, you should be paid accordingly. 

 

As much as people like Groot, I cannot in good conscience say he did more than James Cook... yet we were paying him $13 million last year, right around what Cook wants now, then extended him to $20 million a year.

 

And which side of the ball has everyone complained about not showing up in the playoffs last year? Oh right, the side we rewarded with extensions & bigger contracts.

 

But the side that put up the most points in franchise history, fortified by a great run game for the first time in Allen's career, and the player who everyone said should've gotten the ball more in the KC playoff game... that's the guy who we shouldn't pay simply because he's a RB?

 

Makes no sense.

 

 

Makes plenty of sense. It's just not what you want to hear. The more fungible a position, the less guys there will be paid.

[Doc Brown]

6 hours ago, Paup 1995MVP said:

Johnson and Davis could have put up similar numbers if they got the ball as much.  The O line is why our run game is so strong.  James Cook is a nice RB.  And the Bills like him.  But he is not going to get paid by us like he is Thurman Thomas reincarnated.  Just not going to happen under this regime. 

He wouldn't give top of the market money for sure.  However, Beane's stated in the past that he wouldn't be opposed to drafting a first round running back (I disagree with him) and that line of thinking would pry extend to giving productive backs second contracts.  Just the mere fact that their appeared to be talks between Beane and Cook's agent makes me think the Bills want to re-sign him.  I think I remember correctly that Beane sigend Breida in 2021 even though they had Singletary and Moss because of Breida's home run potential.  Cook has that.

 

They pry have Cook's value around $8m given his age, work load, efficiency, and work ethic.  Far away from the $15m though that Cook seems to want.  Beane pry won't move off that price so he could pry draft a RB next year that's maybe 85 to 90% the player that James Cook is at a fifth of the cost.  Still somewhat rolling the dice though even if RB is one of the safer day two picks compared to other positions.  

[Big Turk]

Having insurance isn't the same as having State Farm.

 

It's like getting the protection of Bateman when you need Batman.

 

Maybe he should go do a podcast or something.

[Paup 1995MVP]

3 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

He wouldn't give top of the market money for sure.  However, Beane's stated in the past that he wouldn't be opposed to drafting a first round running back (I disagree with him) and that line of thinking would pry extend to giving productive backs second contracts.  Just the mere fact that their appeared to be talks between Beane and Cook's agent makes me think the Bills want to re-sign him.  I think I remember correctly that Beane sigend Breida in 2021 even though they had Singletary and Moss because of Breida's home run potential.  Cook has that.

 

They pry have Cook's value around $8m given his age, work load, efficiency, and work ethic.  Far away from the $15m though that Cook seems to want.  Beane pry won't move off that price so he could pry draft a RB next year that's maybe 85 to 90% the player that James Cook is at a fifth of the cost.  Still somewhat rolling the dice though even if RB is one of the safer day two picks compared to other positions.  

Matt Breida-There’s a name from the past.  

That’s a real solid analysis.  Maybe he goes to $10 mill per year on Cook max? But definitely not above that.  
 

if that’s the range that Beane values Cook at, it will be interesting if Cook shows up for training camp.  
 

He will probably have to play out the final year of his contract and then all bets are off. 
 

 

[GunnerBill]

On 6/6/2025 at 1:55 PM, Paup 1995MVP said:

Matt Breida-There’s a name from the past.  

That’s a real solid analysis.  Maybe he goes to $10 mill per year on Cook max? But definitely not above that.  
 

if that’s the range that Beane values Cook at, it will be interesting if Cook shows up for training camp.  
 

He will probably have to play out the final year of his contract and then all bets are off. 
 

 

 

He is worth more than $10m AAV. Clearly the Bills aren't willing to go to $15m AAV - even with a team friendly version of that contract - so the landing spot is somewhere in the middle. 

 

Cook will turn up to training camp. The way the league is set up now hold outs are really not beneficial to players. Could Cook turn up a few days late for camp, or turn up and "hold in" for a few days? Yea that's possible. But what I expect is him to maximise his leverage until his leverage runs out... and it runs out once camp gets serious and eyes start turning to actual football games. 

 

I think the likelihood at this stage is that he plays without a new deal this year, but equally there is still a chance that when he starts practicing there is something of a meeting of minds that gives Cook some injury security and allows the Bills some flexibility.... (something that for example is a 3 year deal that's really a one year deal with a big option that activates after the season - think the type of deal they did with Tyrod coming out of 2015). 

[cba fan]

On 6/5/2025 at 12:56 PM, Ya Digg? said:

So here’s the Cook question-how is Bateman worth $12 million a year but Cook isn’t? 
 

and yes I know they play different positions, it’s apples to oranges, etc 

you answered your own question. lol

 

rb have had very low value for decades now. Barkley and Henry changing it a little but they are outlier freaks of nature.

2nd RB market contracts and FA contracts have been a disaster league wide for many years. Probably will never change overall.

Edited 1 hour ago by cba fan

[White Linen]

On 6/5/2025 at 5:18 PM, Ya Digg? said:

I’m honestly not sure that I did

 

what would someone consider a successful season for Bateman or even the Bills new $12 million WR in Palmer? Is either one going to put up the roughly 1,400 total yards and 8-10 touchdowns that Cook has averaged over the last 2 seasons? 
 

I’m not even sure I’m saying Cook should get $12 million a season, but people have to admit, a team’s 3rd to 5th best receiver making that money is kinda crazy at this point 

 

You're talking about fair value and what's being replied to you is market value.  

 

Market value is more volatile and while it encompass aspects of fair value, it relies on trends.  You're trying to value Cook based on calculations but his value is what the market says.