Cook signed👀 - 4 / 48 / 30 mil guaranteed

[Success]

This was a good decision, and a good deal for both sides.

 

 

[Logic]

Just now, Ya Digg? said:

What do you mean pass catching chops?  If it's about drops, that narrative is extremely overblown because of his 2nd year.  If it's not about that, can you explain?

Sure. 

James Cook is not particularly a threat in the passing game. He's pretty good there, but he's not great.

Case in point: He is not the team's 3rd down back. Running backs that are true threats in the passing game don't tend to get taken off the field on 3rd downs.

If a running back isn't a bellcow and doesn't have major pass catching chops, I prefer not to pay them big money.

I don't particularly care to relitigate the issue any further than that, as I've said my piece plenty over the past few months on this forum.

Go Bills.

[Chicken Boo]

Was that so hard?  FFS...

[ddaryl]

15 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

 

If you're worried about the cap, there are lots of other places to look than this new contract.

 

 

 

 

I'm always looking at the cap so my question still stands. I haven't see the details of the deal but I assume there will be an effect to this year where we were already at -600K so something needs to happen. 

 

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

8 minutes ago, Logic said:

1) James Cook is a good football player, adds an explosive element to the Bills offense, and makes life easier for Josh Allen. 

 

2) As a matter of team building philosophy, I don't love giving second contracts to running backs that have not consistently displayed bellcow ability and pass catching chops. 

3) Giving Cook the most guaranteed money that a running back has gotten in five years is...significant.

4) I believe what likely happened is that the Bills said "look, we can't reach the $15million number you're asking for. But we can up the guarantees". It was a way to meet the agent in the middle, make the player happy, and end the drama.

5) Brandon Beane likely did not want to go into such a critical season -- with the Bills once again on the doorstep of reaching a Super Bowl -- with a disgruntled player on offense and any kind of funkiness in the locker room. His desire for stability and harmony likely contributed to his doing what, for him, is an atypical thing at the running back position.


All in all, while the guarantees are high and the move itself goes against my preferred roster building strategy, I'm happy the drama is over, happy for James Cook (players should always get the bag when they can!), and happy that the offensive core is essentially locked in for the next three seasons. Super Bowl contention should continue annually (health permitting), and that's a win for Beane and the Bills.

 

I wouldn't be shocked if the structure of the guaranteed money makes it possible to move on by 2028, which would put him at 28-29 when drop off tends to start 

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, SCBills said:

For me, he needs to be utilized more as a pass catcher.   That’s not on him though.. I have no idea why he hasn’t been. 
 

Getting him against a linebacker in coverage is a cheat code every time. 

 

Agreed, and it's my response to "he doesnt pass protect well".

 

Fine, DONT leave him in the backfield to chip a blitzer. Have him pop out and have Josh hit him fast as the hot route. Now you have Cook in space. Defenses will have to decide if blitzing is worth leaving Cook wide open.

[Alphadawg7]

This was what I expected IF we got a deal done, and this was pretty much where my max comfort spot was as well after we saw the RB market contracts rise.  This feels like a pretty fair deal on both sides, and I am stoked he will remain in Buffalo!  

 

LFG - Cant wait for the season opener!

[BruceVilanch]

55 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

Not sure, but I'm positive some on here will blame it on Cook

I blame Kincaid, that skinny bastard.

[ddaryl]

4 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

Wasn't trying to answer it - my statement is pretty obvious.  Why is this all being directed at Cook?  All of those other guys signed extensions, but only Cook's negatively effects being able to sign guys?  Doesn't make sense

Because we were -600k before the Cook deal and I assume Cook's deal ads more money to our salary cap deficit so my question is still un answered.

If you do not have an answer then don't quote someone who has a question, I am still curious at this junction. 

[Section28]

If you want an explosive playmaker, is it better to spend $30 million a year on a receiver who gets 7 catches a game, or $18 million on an offensive lineman and $12 million on a running back with 16 carries and 4 catches?

[Ya Digg?]

Just now, ddaryl said:

Because we were -600k before the Cook deal and I assume Cook's deal ads more money to our salary cap deficit so my question is still un answered.

If you do not have an answer then don't quote someone who has a question, I am still curious at this junction. 

Relax it's not that serious - you still haven't answered mine so I guess we are even

[DrDawkinstein]

5 minutes ago, ddaryl said:

I'm always looking at the cap so my question still stands. I haven't see the details of the deal but I assume there will be an effect to this year where we were already at -600K so something needs to happen. 

 

 

Fair enough as a general cap question looking at the whole roster.

 

Cook's new deal is an extension and wouldnt change his 2025 number unless Beane specifically designed it that way. Which I'd be surprised since we were already in cap trouble. NONE of the other extensions signed this offseason changed the players' 2025 numbers.

 

Currently, the cap number is based on our 51 highest contracts. If any of those guys get released in our cut down from 99 to 53, then we're likely under cap immediately.

 

In looking at our "top 51", we have some guy names Kendrick Green at #50 making $1M with no dead money if cut. Cut him and we're immediately +400k.

 

Shenault and Hamler in the same boat and I doubt both will be kept.

 

WR Kristian Wilkerson is at #47 with $1.1M, and he's likely gone.

 

So short answer: Cuts will get us there.

 

3 minutes ago, ddaryl said:

Because we were -600k before the Cook deal and I assume Cook's deal ads more money to our salary cap deficit so my question is still un answered.

If you do not have an answer then don't quote someone who has a question, I am still curious at this junction. 

 

That is a bad assumption right now. It shouldnt. It's an extension.

 

 

Edited August 13 by DrDawkinstein

[uticaclub]

54 minutes ago, appoo said:

At one point the bills surrounded Allen with an elite WR, an extended TE, a 1st round TE, a pro bowl caliber Tackle, high priced interior talent, and an excellent slot player.

 

The bills may have never had Marvin Harrison but I’m really getting tired of this meme.

 

Without Josh Allen the bills have an elite OLine, high quality TE play, and legit quality OC, a potential high end outside WR, an elite slot, and solid WR depth.

 

Replace Allen with Baker Mayfield and this team makes the playoffs. 
 

With or without James Cook. Heck you could probably replace him with Sam Darnold or Bryce Young this team makes the playoffs 

No team is making the playoffs with Bryce Young.

[BuffaloBillyG]

4 hours ago, BillsFooteball said:

4 years 48 million. 30 million guaranteed 

A bit higher than I'd want to pay any RB, but a fair deal for Cook. A tad above Kyren Williams, but below the truly elite RBs. 30M guarantee softens the blow for him and helps him save face and feel appreciated. Good deal all around and in another year or two will look a lot better. 

 

It's a good day.

Edited August 13 by BuffaloBillyG

[SectionC3]

18 minutes ago, SCBills said:

For me, he needs to be utilized more as a pass catcher.   That’s not on him though.. I have no idea why he hasn’t been. 
 

Getting him against a linebacker in coverage is a cheat code every time. 

Unreliable hands.  

17 minutes ago, Logic said:

Sure. 

James Cook is not particularly a threat in the passing game. He's pretty good there, but he's not great.

Case in point: He is not the team's 3rd down back. Running backs that are true threats in the passing game don't tend to get taken off the field on 3rd downs.

If a running back isn't a bellcow and doesn't have major pass catching chops, I prefer not to pay them big money.

I don't particularly care to relitigate the issue any further than that, as I've said my piece plenty over the past few months on this forum.

Go Bills.

Part of it is blocking/size.  I’d like to see him get the ball in space more on first and second downs. 

[Buffalo Boy]

10 minutes ago, uticaclub said:

No team is making the playoffs with Bryce Young.

Respectfully disagree

The Carolina D is gonna be their downfall this year. They actually GOT their your QB some weapons and have been feeding T Mac the ball all training camp. Panthers O should be fun to watch this year. Canales seems to have his offensive bleep together 

[Logic]

3 minutes ago, SectionC3 said:

 

Part of it is blocking/size.  I’d like to see him get the ball in space more on first and second downs. 

I absolutely think the Bills could be using Cook more creatively in multiple respects.

Their ongoing inability to execute an effective screen game is one of the most maddening and befuddling mysteries I've ever witnessed.

[Lost]

2 minutes ago, Logic said:

I absolutely think the Bills could be using Cook more creatively in multiple respects.

Their ongoing inability to execute an effective screen game is one of the most maddening and befuddling mysteries I've ever witnessed.

 

They need to get more creative than the frequent bubble screens to Shakir.   One of those is gonna get taken for a pick 6 sooner than later.

[Logic]

4 minutes ago, Lost said:

 

They need to get more creative than the frequent bubble screens to Shakir.   One of those is gonna get taken for a pick 6 sooner than later.

Yeah. WR bubble screens are the only thing they've been able to execute from a screen perspective in the past couple seasons.

With the movement skills of some of our o-linemen and Cook's ability in space, RB screens should be a lethal part of our offense.

[BigDingus]

Does the NFL still suspend people for weed? Because there's no way Cook isn't high in this interview...