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

[LABILLBACKER]

49 minutes ago, Process said:

Ok so pro bowl RB got $11M. Cook is better yes but he's delusional if he thinks he's getting $15M+. 

Cook is a very very good RB with obvious limitations.  Blocking and the occasional drop being the most egregious.  But we need him on this roster. I'm just not willing to pay 15M/yr for a 2 down back.  3/36 and 22 guaranteed is as far as I go.

[Rockpile233]

Nice that this contract should cut the BS on both sides. If something doesn’t happen quickly someone is very unreasonable on either side. 

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

How do we know what offer the Bills made?

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, FLFan said:

Yes, so people saying Cook is better, how so?  They seem pretty even to me.  Cook’s market value is nowhere near what he is asking.  I would be surprised is the Bills are not in this same ballpark with their offer.

 

Market Value is tricky and always inflated.

 

If 5th round Williams is settling for $11M/yr then his price on the open market, where GMs lose sanity in Free Agency, is probably $13M+. But all it takes is one crazy GM with a lot of cap room and we're off to the races.

 

I agree the Bills offer was probably in the same ballpark, and that is why Cook hasnt accepted it yet.

 

Just now, stlbills13 said:

If they had the same deal, which player would you rather have?

 

Cook. Need those home runs.

[BeastMaster]

Williams is more complete a back than Cook is, but Cook is more explosive. That puts them at near the same value to me.

 

I'm offering somewhere between 11.5 - 12 per on a three year extension with 24 guaranteed. 

 

Take it or leave it

 

[atlbillsfan1975]

38 minutes ago, TheFunPolice said:

So 3 for 42 but guarantee 30

 

vs

 

3 for 34.5 all guaranteed

 

No real difference except base salary. 

I don’t hate the first option you suggest. It would allow the Bills some flexibility to spread out the cap hit some if they decided to cut him say after the 2027 season. 
Cook has been so adamant about the $15 mil a year, it makes me wonder how can the team get creative to make it look like that for his agent to post. In actuality it is structured more team friendly. 

Edited Tuesday at 05:08 PM by atlbillsfan1975

[GoBills808]

7 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Nice to have this done and get some perspective for both sides.

 

It wont be the same deal for Cook, he'll be looking for more. He's an explosive weapon, and a 2nd round big name vs a 5th rounder. As much as anyone wants to say that doesnt matter, it definitely plays into the player's willingness to "settle". Same thing happened with Benford and Shakir.

 

We'll have a to pay a bit of a premium, but hopefully not much more.

i think 11/5-12 is the sweet spot tbh

 

and even thats kind of steep imo but whatever 

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, atlbillsfan1975 said:

I don’t hate the first option you suggest. It would allow the Bills some flexibility to spread out the cap hit some if they decided to cut him say after the 2027 season. 
Cook has been so adamant about the 15 a year thing, it makes me wonder how can the team get creative to make it look like that for his agent to post. In actuality it is structured more team friendly. 

 

He's been "adamant"? He made one comment on someone else's post that just said "15 mill year". 

 

For the second part, it's pretty easy. 4yr/$60M, $40M guaranteed. Add on a void year (Saquon's contract has 4 void years, lol), and the team is down to $12M/yr and only $8M/yr guaranteed. Factor it as an extension to his remaining 1/$5M, and youre at a cap structure of 6yr/$65M or less than $11M/yr. Cook and his agent get to post $15M avg of new money.

Edited Tuesday at 05:11 PM by DrDawkinstein

[dcinmuncie]

Haven’t read this thread yet, but I’m betting my house this has turned into a James cook thread 😂

[Big Blitz]

Kyren will be 25 later this month. 
 

Cook turns 26 in September. 
 

For what it’s worth.  

[Ethan in Cleveland]

3 years $38.5M fully guaranteed.  

Get it done. 

[atlbillsfan1975]

7 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

He's been "adamant"? He made one comment on someone else's post that just said "15 mill year". 

 

For the second part, it's pretty easy. 4yr/$60M, $40M guaranteed. Add on a void year (Saquon's contract has 4 void years, lol), and the team is down to $12M/yr and only $8M/yr guaranteed. Factor it as an extension to his remaining 1/$5M, and youre at a cap structure of 6yr/$65M or less than $11M/yr. Cook and his agent get to post $15M avg of new money.

Thanks. Adamant might have been a strong word to use for what Cook has said. I have heard it referenced some by Joe Marino of LockedOnBills. 

Edited Tuesday at 05:18 PM by atlbillsfan1975

[dollars 2 donuts]

 

 

Previously I had said low end 10 million per, 12 million per max.

 

Honestly, this morning on the way into work I thought 3 years, $36 million, $24 million guaranteed. So, this contract is good news to that end.

 

...but nothing higher.

 

I love Cook, but nothing more.

 

 

 

 

[947]

I bet Beane already offered 3yr/$33M, and all that did was lead to "business...".

 

Now way they offer Cook anything more than 11.5M/season now.

[machine gun kelly]

1 hour ago, eball said:

Similar stats...if the Bills could reach agreement with Cook at 11M per season I don't think any of us would be too upset.

 

Im fine with $11/yr. For 3 years.  I was leaning up to this point with playing out his year, tagging him, and either sit out next year or sign the freakin tag.  Either way we could be done with him at either 27 or 28.  That’s the shelf life of most RB’s not named Henry.

 

Besides Williams has done it longer than Cook.  It’s beautiful leverage for Beane.

 

1350 all purpose yea rds in 2023
1481 all purpose yards in 2024.

 

How the hell can his agent state cook has done more?

Edited Tuesday at 05:30 PM by machine gun kelly

[GolfandBills]

1 minute ago, machine gun kelly said:

Im fine with $11/yr. For 3 years.  I was leaning up to this point with playing out his year, tagging him, and either sit out next year or sign the freakin tag.  Either way we could be done with him at either 27 or 28.  That’s the shelf life of most RB’s not named Henry.

 

Besides Williams has done it longer than Cook.  It’s beautiful leverage for Beane.

Avoid the tag at all costs.  That’s a hard 15m on the cap 

[BigBilly11]

Cook is better. Prob a mil/year.

 

Williams gets all goal to go rushes in that offense. Like literally 100%. Cook gets what? 40%?  Williams is a good back, but no explosiveness. Longest rush is 31 yards in the NFL. Cook does this multiple times each season and he is more efficient. 

McVay is an offensive guru with Kupp(previously)/Nacua on the perimeter; defenses have to key on. Not the same can be said about Cook. A lot of the time the Bills are in 12 personnel bringing an extra defender into the box.

"Cook doesnt pass block well"- I'm fine with that if taking him off the field on 3rd down keeps him fresh and on the field 19+ games.

 

I get if you aren't in the "pay your RB" boat but Cook deserves more than 11 mil/year. 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 05:36 PM by BigBilly11
added

[NoHuddleKelly12]

1 hour ago, Process said:

I didn't realize how productive Williams is. Rushing 1300yds and 14TDs last year. 

He was always solid for my fantasy football team, fwiw 

[machine gun kelly]

9 minutes ago, GolfandBills said:

Avoid the tag at all costs.  That’s a hard 15m on the cap 

It’s actually projected at $14,146 in 2026.  My reasoning is we have him at $5.3 mil. this year.  That’s basically $19,446,000 over 2 years so an annual of $9,723,000 over an avg. for two years.  The problem is we have to pay the tag up front.  That’s even better than $13 mil. Per year., but we would get time to smooth out the cap and one more year.  Either way we win.

 

Thats my reasoning.

 

This would be my final offer, and we can still give $23 mil guaranteed +$1 to save face for the guy.

Edited Tuesday at 05:38 PM by machine gun kelly

[Scott7975]

I would think that should help us get a deal with Cook. They are about the same level of RB. Maybe Cook get a little more but not $15m. Cook is not a 3 down back though. 

Edited Tuesday at 05:57 PM by Scott7975