Rams extend RB Kyren Williams - 3-year, $33 million

[TheyCallMeAndy]

9 hours ago, NewEra said:

But he’ll get more money than Kyren.  Because he hits home runs and offers a different dimension as a RB.  Cook is a bigger threat in all aspects of the offense except for pass blocking.  He’s more dynamic with the ball in his hands.  Watch.  Use your eyeballs to watch them play rather than looking at numbers. 
 

Kyren is a very good back.  Cook puts a lot more pressure on the defense.  That makes him better imo.  A true threat to score every time he touches the ball.

Difference of opinion, I get where you're coming from.

 

Neither one of us is wrong

[Einstein's Dog]

10 hours ago, NewEra said:

But he’ll get more money than Kyren.  Because he hits home runs and offers a different dimension as a RB.  Cook is a bigger threat in all aspects of the offense except for pass blocking.  He’s more dynamic with the ball in his hands.  Watch.  Use your eyeballs to watch them play rather than looking at numbers. 
 

Kyren is a very good back.  Cook puts a lot more pressure on the defense.  That makes him better imo.  A true threat to score every time he touches the ball.

Maybe Cook will get more money, but I doubt much more from the Bills.  Why would they?  K Williams had more production and was on the field more. 

 

If you want to use the eye test, Cook's team better make sure it's not adjusted for importance - like 3rd downs or crunch time.

 

The comparable has been set, it's now time to end the drama and get Cook signed.  The problem is K Williams contract is probably much more in line with what Beane had offered than what Cook's team had proposed.

[NewEra]

24 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Difference of opinion, I get where you're coming from.

 

Neither one of us is wrong

Except cook will get more money.  
 

Kyren also had 5 fumbles last year and 2(lost 1) vs the eagles in the playoffs and may have cost his team the game.

 

[dancing_joker]

10 pages of comparing Kyren Williams to James Cook, yet no one knows if Beane would actually pay Cook $12 mill a year.

[Avisan]

5 minutes ago, dancing_joker said:

10 pages of comparing Kyren Williams to James Cook, yet no one knows if Beane would actually pay Cook $12 mill a year.

Fair, we are certainly making assumptions here, Beane doesn't have a history of lowballing, though.

[dancing_joker]

33 minutes ago, Avisan said:

Fair, we are certainly making assumptions here, Beane doesn't have a history of lowballing, though.

He doesn’t lowball if he wants the player. But he didn’t sign Edmunds or Gabe Davis to second contracts, and they were both starters. He may plan on draft and replace next year. I hope he doesn’t.

[machine gun kelly]

2 hours ago, Einstein's Dog said:

Maybe Cook will get more money, but I doubt much more from the Bills.  Why would they?  K Williams had more production and was on the field more. 

 

If you want to use the eye test, Cook's team better make sure it's not adjusted for importance - like 3rd downs or crunch time.

 

The comparable has been set, it's now time to end the drama and get Cook signed.  The problem is K Williams contract is probably much more in line with what Beane had offered than what Cook's team had proposed.

I think the WGR boys threw up some data this morning that makes sense.  It’s true they had a comparable production, but Cook did it with 40% less touches.  So Williams had done it all p, but with zero yards over expected, yet Cook only played maybe 45% of the snaps, and had far more explosive plays and 9th in yards over expected.

 

Cook’s body is not meant to hold up like Williams, yet Williams doesn’t have near the explosiveness as Cook.  We need another back like Davis or Johnson to complete those tasks.  Therefore, a comparable contract makes sense.

 

3 yrs. For $33 mil with instead of $23 mil. Guaranteed like Williams, we give $24 mil. To Cook.  He saves face, but only ends up with the same contract.  I can live with that contract.  Cook would be done in Buffalo when he’s 29 if the deal has him play out this year, but gets the immediate positive if the guaranteed money.  A win win for everyone.  Otherwise play out the contract, amd tag him at $14.1mil. which is the expectation tag for 2026.

[Einstein's Dog]

2 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

I think the WGR boys threw up some data this morning that makes sense.  It’s true they had a comparable production, but Cook did it with 40% less touches.  So Williams had done it all p, but with zero yards over expected, yet Cook only played maybe 45% of the snaps, and had far more explosive plays and 9th in yards over expected.

 

Cook’s body is not meant to hold up like Williams, yet Williams doesn’t have near the explosiveness as Cook.  We need another back like Davis or Johnson to complete those tasks.  Therefore, a comparable contract makes sense.

 

3 yrs. For $33 mil with instead of $23 mil. Guaranteed like Williams, we give $24 mil. To Cook.  He saves face, but only ends up with the same contract.  I can live with that contract.  Cook would be done in Buffalo when he’s 29 if the deal has him play out this year, but gets the immediate positive if the guaranteed money.  A win win for everyone.  Otherwise play out the contract, amd tag him at $14.1mil. which is the expectation tag for 2026.

I agree with your assessment.  The comparable is right there for everyone to see. 

 

One thing that I think gets overlooked in the ypc analysis are the tough yards.  When K Williams gets 2 yards on a 3rd and one, that's a successful down/run, yet in the aggregate it diminishes his overall ypc.  Or for instance, Cook's incredible 4 yard TD run against KC is somehow aggregated into a negative pull on his ypc seems unjust.

 

I've tried to get my aypc (Adjusted Yards Per Carry) stat out there to no avail.  This stat would eliminate carries for first downs and TDs that are less than the players overall ypc.  RB's shouldn't get penalized for tough, short runs to get the first, or for short TD runs.  And First Downs (FDs) should be a stand alone stat that should be quoted regularly IMO.

 

Anyways, if Cook wanted K Williams money it's a safe bet Cook's camp would have leaked that information and put pressure on Beane.  From the silence (and the previous information) seems like we can deduce where the hold-up is taking place.

[GoBills808]

9 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

I agree with your assessment.  The comparable is right there for everyone to see. 

 

One thing that I think gets overlooked in the ypc analysis are the tough yards.  When K Williams gets 2 yards on a 3rd and one, that's a successful down/run, yet in the aggregate it diminishes his overall ypc.  Or for instance, Cook's incredible 4 yard TD run against KC is somehow aggregated into a negative pull on his ypc seems unjust.

 

I've tried to get my aypc (Adjusted Yards Per Carry) stat out there to no avail.  This stat would eliminate carries for first downs and TDs that are less than the players overall ypc.  RB's shouldn't get penalized for tough, short runs to get the first, or for short TD runs.  And First Downs (FDs) should be a stand alone stat that should be quoted regularly IMO.

 

Anyways, if Cook wanted K Williams money it's a safe bet Cook's camp would have leaked that information and put pressure on Beane.  From the silence (and the previous information) seems like we can deduce where the hold-up is taking place.

A lot of this is baked into the success rate stat

[3rdand12]

10 hours ago, dancing_joker said:

10 pages of comparing Kyren Williams to James Cook, yet no one knows if Beane would actually pay Cook $12 mill a year.

The most recent equivalent  contracts still set the bar at positions. This one is fair and applicable to Cooks situation

5 hours ago, Einstein's Dog said:

I agree with your assessment.  The comparable is right there for everyone to see. 

 

One thing that I think gets overlooked in the ypc analysis are the tough yards.  When K Williams gets 2 yards on a 3rd and one, that's a successful down/run, yet in the aggregate it diminishes his overall ypc.  Or for instance, Cook's incredible 4 yard TD run against KC is somehow aggregated into a negative pull on his ypc seems unjust.

 

I've tried to get my aypc (Adjusted Yards Per Carry) stat out there to no avail.  This stat would eliminate carries for first downs and TDs that are less than the players overall ypc.  RB's shouldn't get penalized for tough, short runs to get the first, or for short TD runs.  And First Downs (FDs) should be a stand alone stat that should be quoted regularly IMO.

 

Anyways, if Cook wanted K Williams money it's a safe bet Cook's camp would have leaked that information and put pressure on Beane.  From the silence (and the previous information) seems like we can deduce where the hold-up is taking place.

Context context context

 Who do you give the ball to when it matters ?

Cook is one dynamic player for sure . but ..

[NoSaint]

9 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

The most recent equivalent  contracts still set the bar at positions. This one is fair and applicable to Cooks situation

Context context context

 Who do you give the ball to when it matters ?

Cook is one dynamic player for sure . but ..

its ultimately just another data point in the “cook or…” roster building discussion.
 

If the theory is he wants saquon money…. Cash flow is like 17-18 per year for the next 2-4 years bar napkin 

 

If given the choice how would we rank just chasing saquon in the first place and trading cook vs paying cook the same deal?

 

a kyren-esque back AND a mid tier contributor vs cook? 

I hate the idea of losing our only lightning in a bottle outside Josh but he’s not cmc or saquon and to not just pay but overpay a running back doesn’t make sense unless we are officially pushing every last chip in right now…. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 8/5/2025 at 12:12 PM, SoonerBillsFan said:

In all fairness how do you see Cook is better?  Cook has a better QB and OL and has lesser stats over the last 2 years.  

And 1100+ with 12 TD's the year before.

And Cook averages almost a full yard more per carry..

[3rdand12]

21 hours ago, NoSaint said:

its ultimately just another data point in the “cook or…” roster building discussion.
 

If the theory is he wants saquon money…. Cash flow is like 17-18 per year for the next 2-4 years bar napkin 

 

If given the choice how would we rank just chasing saquon in the first place and trading cook vs paying cook the same deal?

 

a kyren-esque back AND a mid tier contributor vs cook? 

I hate the idea of losing our only lightning in a bottle outside Josh but he’s not cmc or saquon and to not just pay but overpay a running back doesn’t make sense unless we are officially pushing every last chip in right now…. 

By Bills design , I just don't think they wanted to use him the way Teams might use a Barkley or Christian Henry etc.

He fills a great role in a three headed attack

 Part of the issue might be is he truly excels in his role and is a key cog for Brady and Josh.

 If its just about money for Camp Cooks

We have the wrong Guy.

 For one season 😋 Hope he kills it in Buffalo this year and let the future bring what it may

 Thanks for the nice reply

18 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

And Cook averages almost a full yard more per carry..

Not in the red zone I bet

Edited August 7 by 3rdand12