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

[BeastMaster]

5 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Everyone saying Cook is better... how?

 

Williams has the better, more proven rushing production.

 

Cook had less than 100 more receiving yards last year 

 

Williams played 888 (87%) of the team's offensive snaps. Cook didn't do half that. 

They are saying it because he's flashier and more explosive

 

They are confusing that with being better when the Rams don't have to take him off the field ever. He's a workhorse that has produced.

 

Cook has better YPC because he doesn't handle the workload Williams does...this is fact. 

 

All things considered...I would say they are pretty much equal. Claiming Cook is better cause of the splash plays doesn't compute when looking at the entire picture.

Edited August 5 by BeastMaster

[BillsShredder83]

2 hours ago, Brand J said:

Should help Cook’s camp come to terms if they were already close. 

Diana Russinni says theyre close in $$$, but not necessarily a deal (this parts my interpretation), a report 5 hours ago..... this came out since, sounds like we'll know very shortly

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, billsbackto81 said:

Also consider that Rams may need Williams more than the Bills need Cook. Williams is a 3 down back and the Rams #2 RB is Ronnie Williams who rushed for a whopping 99 yds. last year. Now I'm not saying Cook is easily replaceable, but Davis had 442 yds at almost 4yd a carry in a limited role and presumably would get better with more touches. Ty Johnson is also no slouch and is a great blocker and receiver.

 

I want Cook back as much as everyone else, but he has to be reasonable.  

 

3yr./34 mil /25 guaranteed 

Very fair numbers

[JerseyBills]

8 minutes ago, Logic said:

He gets a ton of volume and scoring opportunities in a great rushing scheme.

My contention is that a lot of the metrics which measure a running back's performance are not particularly impressive for him. I can respect the "disregard the analytics, use the eye test instead" argument to a point. Clearly the Rams felt he warranted a nice extension, and other players seem to like and respect him.

I'm very surprised by these rankings,  then again I've seen every Cook snap and majority of Kyren on redzone 

[GoBills808]

6 minutes ago, BeastMaster said:

Eyeballs doesn't work in negotiations FWIW 

 

Also, one guy is a complete back that never leaves the field, so when one guy can't do that it's hard to claim he's better

 

More explosive, yes. Not necessarily better

lot easier to be explosive when you're playing less than half your team's downs on offense and don't have to take on blitz pickup+grind out third and short

[NeverOutNick]

3 hours ago, Big Blitz said:

 

This is the absolute most I would give Cook. Extra 3 years, but basically just 2 year extension with an out for the 3rd. Glad this happened to show him what his value really is.

[BillsShredder83]

2 hours ago, Brand J said:

Oh, I’m sure they have been. But Kyren’s contract sets a comparative marker. If Cook and his camp believed they were worth $15M/yr, but just saw a comparable back sign for $11M/yr, they have to know they’re not getting $15M in free agency. All other teams can point to the contracts similar backs make and Cook will have to face the music.

Could be the best time to trade him honestly!!  If you arent close, might as well get something for him... a team trading for him his a friendly comparable deal to go off of, meaning somebody might be stoked to pay him $13m but not $15m, and theyll part with higher pics as a result.  

 

We all know that OL is a huge driving force!  Bills have gotten a good chance to see what Ray-Day has done behind this OL... maybe they feel really good about it.  Hes a better pass blocker (which is how this team determines 3rd D snap %), and has better hands, while not being as good of a route runner (at least for now).

 

Running backs have a higher perceived value than they have at any point in the last 5-7 years!

 

Im not sure what id want in a trade for him.... but I'd hope they're open to it!!  Anybody out there thatd consider a p4p trade and get us a valuable WR? Likely not, but interesting things happening

[That's No Moon]

16 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

Its like saying instead of breaking a 60 yard TD its better he goes 7 carries for 67 and runs one in from the 4.   

I don't think I said that, but...the second option can be just as helpful to your offense.  Cook's explosiveness is a big asset and why I agree that he's worth a little more than Kyren Williams is.  Williams isn't the usage comp, Aaron Jones is.  Jones was always the more explosive back in GB but he was always in a timeshare.  Players like Barkley, McCaffrey, Henry and Taylor aren't in timeshares

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

3 hours ago, ScotSHO said:

Could Beane float those types of numbers, and what position would we have to steal from (probably WR, right)?

 

Actually my bet is Oliver is gone next year unless he takes a big pay cut. 

 

An extension for Cook could be structured that the cap hit for this year is very little and the big $$ kicks in next year when Oliver and Samuel are gone and maybe even Knox.

 

If some of the rookies and 2nd year folks look OK, could see some big changes next season.  Free agents like McGovern, Edwards could be gone, or at least one of them.  Same with D line, many young 1st contracts available.

[T master]

3 hours ago, Big Blitz said:

 

HEY JAMES, ---- JAMES WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS COME QUICK !!! 

 

James; Man Beane is going to be so pissed when I show him this !!!! 🤣

Edited August 5 by T master

[DrDawkinstein]

4 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Actually my bet is Oliver is gone next year unless he takes a big pay cut. 

 

An extension for Cook could be structured that the cap hit for this year is very little and the big $$ kicks in next year when Oliver and Samuel are gone and maybe even Knox.

 

If some of the rookies and 2nd year folks look OK, could see some big changes next season.  Free agents like McGovern, Edwards could be gone, or at least one of them.  Same with D line, many young 1st contracts available.

 

I agree with most of this, except the last part about the fall out. IMO, if the young guys pan out, then Ed and Dawson are gone and McGovern and Edwards get their extensions.

[QCity]

Cook might be more explosive, but Kyren is a year younger and a slightly better blocker.

 

This isn't good news for the $15M/yr camp.

[Buffalo716]

3 hours ago, Walking Tall said:

Cook is a bit better but that’s a good baseline. 12.5-13 million is the highest I’d go with Cook.

 

3 hours 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+. 

He's barely better... Cook is a more talented pure runner Williams is more complete

 

Williams is talented, a much better blocker and has a nose for the end zone too

 

He's built bigger too

 

This was literally the contract I've had in my mind for James Cook 3 years 33 million

 

He also has been a really good goal line back for 2 years

6 minutes ago, QCity said:

Cook might be more explosive, but Kyren is a year younger and a slightly better blocker.

 

This isn't good news for the $15M/yr camp.

He's a much better blocker lol Williams is a stud at blocking , James Cook barely gets on the field on third down because he can't protect Josh

Edited August 5 by Buffalo716

[BillsShredder83]

3 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

I agree with most of this, except the last part about the fall out. IMO, if the young guys pan out, then Ed and Dawson are gone and McGovern and Edwards get their extensions.

I dont understand how anyone is talking about letting McGovern out the door.  He was a major turning of the tide with when our OL went from solid to pretty darn great.... and he's done it at two positions (while sliding further away from D-Dawk and learning a new'ish position. hes playing on hard mode)... is young.  Edwards is whatever, he feels more replaceable (even upgradeable) in the draft.

 

McGovern's flexibility on the field can allow you flexibility if a killer G or C falls to a spot they shouldn't be avail.  Re-sign him as soon as you can cap wise.... and extend Beach-Chairs immediately!!

[DrDawkinstein]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

 

He's barely better if he is 

 

Williams is really talented, a much better blocker and has a nose for the end zone too

 

He's built bigger too

 

This was literally the contract I've had in my mind for James Cook 3 years 33 million

He's a much better blocker lol Williams is a stud at blocking , James Cook barely gets on the field on third down because he can't protect Josh

 

I dont want my RB to block. This is 2025. Slip him out of the backfield and make him a leveraged weapon and let Josh get him the ball in space if the heat is coming.

 

The blocking argument does nothing for me.

[GerstAusGosheim]

If you don't have an ELITE RB, don't pay north of 10m per year. Especially when you have a bunch of JAGs at WR and TE.

[DrDawkinstein]

 

 

1 minute ago, BillsShredder83 said:

I dont understand how anyone is talking about letting McGovern out the door.  He was a major turning of the tide with when our OL went from solid to pretty darn great.... and he's done it at two positions (while sliding further away from D-Dawk and learning a new'ish position. hes playing on hard mode)... is young.  Edwards is whatever, he feels more replaceable (even upgradeable) in the draft.

 

McGovern's flexibility on the field can allow you flexibility if a killer G or C falls to a spot they shouldn't be avail.  Re-sign him as soon as you can cap wise.... and extend Beach-Chairs immediately!!

 

For sure. While I dont agree with it, I understand people being concerned that "if you pay Cook, you wont be able to pay McGovern/Torrence". We'll be able to pay everyone. But I understand their concern with losing those players. McGovern shouldnt be going anywhere either way. Ideally, he's the only taint Josh touches for the next 10 years (unless Josh and I end up in the same bar).

 

[GoBills808]

2 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

I dont want my RB to block. This is 2025. Slip him out of the backfield and make him a leveraged weapon and let Josh get him the ball in space if the heat is coming.

 

The blocking argument does nothing for me.

i would argue it's more important for a halfback to know how to block than a wideout

and we love our blocking wideouts lol

[QCity]

4 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

I dont want my RB to block. This is 2025. Slip him out of the backfield and make him a leveraged weapon and let Josh get him the ball in space if the heat is coming.

 

The blocking argument does nothing for me.

 

Yeah, screw protecting Josh. 😂

 

[Buffalo716]

12 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

I dont want my RB to block. This is 2025. Slip him out of the backfield and make him a leveraged weapon and let Josh get him the ball in space if the heat is coming.

 

The blocking argument does nothing for me.

For a hundred years of football and still going into the future a third down running back has to block 

 

Even if it's 25, 35% of the time.. like modern defenses and pressure packages are way too set up well to not have running backs blocking 

 

You can put a package with six guys on the line of scrimmage like Sean McDermott does with his dual a gap.. and you can feign six rushers 

 

That literally makes you block the running back and guess what he has to pick up a 260 lb dude off the edge..  that happens every single week 

 

James Cook is a very talented pure runner he has other aspects of his game that keeps him off the field 

 

There's a reason why ty Johnson comes in majority of third downs and they take James Cook off the field... If James Cook was as good as he thinks like a legitimate top three or five running back 

 

They're not taking that guy off the field.. but in certain situations he's a liability to keeping Josh Allen healthy 

 

Objectively that's the truth he's a great runner with some holes in his game.. and he also not a runner on the level of an Adrian Peterson or Derrick Henry.. real pure thoroughbreds 

 

He's got better rushing numbers than Alvin kamara because he gets more totes but he's not Alvin kamara.. kamara is the only third down back in the league who doesn't need to block much because he's catching 90 passes a year 

 

Tom Brady won 3 super bowls with Kevin Faulk as a third down back who blocked really well for Brady and then would pop out of the backfield and catch balls... That's the next step for James Cook if he really wants to transcend 

 

Blocking is a massive part of a running backs game.. why James Cook wasn't getting on the field much as a rookie

Edited August 5 by Buffalo716