Cook signed👀 - 4 / 48 / 30 mil guaranteed

[White Linen]

8 hours ago, DapperCam said:

YPC I’ll give you, but a lot of those TDs could have been scored by somebody else. In past seasons it was Allen. This most recent season they gave the ball to Cook in the red zone.

 

Oh absolutely, you're tracking what I'm saying.  Just let someone else do it.  I mean so what, that no other RB's during Allen's tenure did.  There's literally no downside to running Allen more.

[Chandler#81]

Full Beane interview with Pat McAfee. Worth the watch!

 

[Buffalo716]

I'm ready for the future with our Big o line and a multitude of RBs that are multi faceted 

 

Bill belichick won a lot of super bowls with 3rd down backs like Kevin Faulk, James White , rex burkhead 

 

I think Ray Davis and ty Johnson can be our own faulk/white , burkhead

 

And James Cook is the x factor 

[Victory Formation]

7 hours ago, Ya Digg? said:

Which is why I love the instant overreactions! This place is a goldmine of terribly negative overreactions when a guy is signed and I’m all for it…I can’t wait for the McGovern vs Torrence threads 

Still think he’s worth $15M/year??? I seem to remember you giving me a hard time for saying that Cook is worth $11M-$12.5M per year..

[Ya Digg?]

39 minutes ago, Victory Formation said:

Still think he’s worth $15M/year??? I seem to remember you giving me a hard time for saying that Cook is worth $11M-$12.5M per year..

You’re thinking of the wrong person then. I wanted him to get paid for sure, didn’t want the $15 mil. I have certainly battled people on the perception of Cook (he’s a distraction, he’s a me player, he doesn’t want to be here, he’s the bad guy because he wants to get paid-I definitely fought against all those). I never once said a value of what he was worth and/or should’ve gotten 

[ColoradoBills]

I'm happy for both James and Brandon.  A decent contract for both sides.

[Ya Digg?]

6 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

You’re thinking of the wrong person then. I wanted him to get paid for sure, didn’t want the $15 mil. I have certainly battled people on the perception of Cook (he’s a distraction, he’s a me player, he doesn’t want to be here, he’s the bad guy because he wants to get paid-I definitely fought against all those). I never once said a value of what he was worth and/or should’ve gotten 

@Victory Formation what did I say that got the eye roll? You called me out (incorrectly) so at least defend your reaction 

Edited Friday at 12:52 AM by Ya Digg?

[Beck Water]

On 8/13/2025 at 6:34 AM, GunnerBill said:

$12m sounds about right in relation to the Williams deal. As ever the details will matter in terms of how and when the team flexibility is built in. 

 

The devil is always in the details so we'll have to see, sure

In this case, $30M guaranteed is an important number.  Assuming he gets that in the first 2 years of the contract, Cook can look at it as he got is $15M a year, and the Bills can look at it as "we have the right to keep him for 4 years/$48M, making it $12M/yr.  So both sides can say they got what they wanted.
 

[GunnerBill]

22 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

The devil is always in the details so we'll have to see, sure

In this case, $30M guaranteed is an important number.  Assuming he gets that in the first 2 years of the contract, Cook can look at it as he got is $15M a year, and the Bills can look at it as "we have the right to keep him for 4 years/$48M, making it $12M/yr.  So both sides can say they got what they wanted.
 

 

So from what I have seen so far it's c.$15m guaranteed at signing with a foregone conclusion option bonus in 2026 of about $7.5m at which time some of the 2027 money also guarantees. Feels like the Bills are tied in at least for this year and the first two of the four year deal. 

 

Sounds kinda fair.

6 hours ago, White Linen said:

 

Oh absolutely, you're tracking what I'm saying.  Just let someone else do it.  I mean so what, that no other RB's during Allen's tenure did.  There's literally no downside to running Allen more.

 

Josh breaking his hand week 1 last year forced them to back off running Josh inside the 5 so much (excpet for sneak type plays) and made them trust Cook. Finding out he is pretty reliable inside the 5 means they know now they don't need to use Josh as that battering.ram down there. In the long run that broken hand might have been a blessing.

[GolfandBills]

Well there it is… This is the next window to win a Super Bowl in the next 4 years.   I think it happens 

[Rochesterfan]

18 hours ago, MasterStrategist said:

Not sure Bill is correct in saying "severe" agent inflation, re: gtd money.

 

Essentially the only piece being "double counted", is the prior 2025 cash he was due --- $5.3m.  

 

So $25m of additional guaranteed money.  And as mentioned a couple posts above, Buffalo can get out of the deal "favorably" cap wise in the final year.

 

 

 

16 hours ago, MasterStrategist said:

@Rochesterfan, not sure why you disagreed on my post...

 

The math is the math:

 

1. Prior to new deal: Cook would have been paid $5.3m cash this season

 

2. New deal:

 a. $15m guaranteed at signing in 2025

 b. essentially another $10m guaranteed by day 5 of 2026 league year

 c. rest in 2027/2028

 

So old = 5m gtd vs new = $30m gtd (essentially $25m guaranteed by this time next season), wouldn't call that a severe overstatement by agent --- as Bill posted

 

 

It not the math - it is the agent inflation.

 

1st - it’s not 30 million guaranteed - it is closer to 25 million overall

2nd - The full guarantee at signing which is what he is assured is only about 15 million

3rd - the final part of his guarantee is next year and some of that guarantees part his 2027 salary not a payout.

 

I agree with Bill (and it happens every time) this is another case of an agent inflating what he got,

 

In the end he got his salary this year guaranteed (was already going to get by playing) and 9 million for a signing bonus and 5 million of 2026. His Guarantee money at signing is only 15.3 million and that to me is the big number and that is very different than let’s say Barkley (36 million) or Henry (24 million).

 

It is a fair deal and keeps him under 2% of the cap and less than Barkley, Henry, and Williams on their deals.  Once the details dropped - as it typically the agent greatly overinflated the value of the deal to make the math come out and allow him to rank the deal highly for RBs in history.

 

 

Edited Friday at 09:45 AM by Rochesterfan

[Ray Stonada]

On 8/13/2025 at 3:34 PM, boyst said:

the fatal 2000 carries is a long way off for cook but age will creep up... But with his conservative use we may be able to get some good juice squeezed past 30.

 

According to ChatGPT, Emmitt Smith had 9400 yards and 68 TDs after his 2000th carry. Barry Sanders had a 5.0 YPC after his 2000th carry. Frank Gore had 6800 rushing yards after his 2000th carry. So it isn't always fatal...

[MasterStrategist]

1 hour ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

 

It not the math - it is the agent inflation.

 

1st - it’s not 30 million guaranteed - it is closer to 25 million overall

2nd - The full guarantee at signing which is what he is assured is only about 15 million

3rd - the final part of his guarantee is next year and some of that guarantees part his 2027 salary not a payout.

 

I agree with Bill (and it happens every time) this is another case of an agent inflating what he got,

 

In the end he got his salary this year guaranteed (was already going to get by playing) and 9 million for a signing bonus and 5 million of 2026. His Guarantee money at signing is only 15.3 million and that to me is the big number and that is very different than let’s say Barkley (36 million) or Henry (24 million).

 

It is a fair deal and keeps him under 2% of the cap and less than Barkley, Henry, and Williams on their deals.  Once the details dropped - as it typically the agent greatly overinflated the value of the deal to make the math come out and allow him to rank the deal highly for RBs in history.

 

 

So we agree...its basically $25m guaranteed, as its a high likelihood he is on the team next season.  So not sure why you disagreed.

 

So his agent inflated from $25 to 30?  There is a chance he gets close to $30m, but its at least $25.  Everyone getting hung up on the $15m makes no sense.  Cook will be on the team in 2026.

[Shaw66]

I noticed this quote from the article about the Bills on the Bills website;

 

Quote

For Cook, being able to stay in Buffalo and continue to be on a team with guys that he considers family reminds him that he is where he is supposed to be.

 

"This is the place that drafted me. The fans are good, the community is good, and just the team we got, man, we play as one. We are brothers and we have a good bond. It all shows they got my back," shared Cook.

 

Now, of course the Bills wrote it to promote certain ideas. Who knows if those are exactly his words? But even discounting for the fact that the Bills have presented whatever he said in the best possible late, it's still an important statement about the Bills culture. We've heard it before, of course, but McDermott  intentionally built a culture that is powerful, a team-first culture.  There seem to be differing views about whether the Bills overpaid, but even if they did, they got Cook for less than the highest bidder would have paid, and for less than Cook wanted. In that sense, there was a hometown discount. And the other guys who extended earlier this year all took less than they likely would have gotten in the market.  

 

Beane keeps signing quality players at discounts, so what does he do with the savings?  He generally tries to get other guys at discounts, guys like Bosa and Hoecht and others. He doesn't bundle it to buy the really high-priced talent, the top ten receiver or edge.  It's just not their style. The question is whether the team mentality that Cook is talking about creates an advantage in big games, the kind of advantage that an all-pro skill position guy gives his team. 

[boyst]

8 hours ago, Ray Stonada said:

 

According to ChatGPT, Emmitt Smith had 9400 yards and 68 TDs after his 2000th carry. Barry Sanders had a 5.0 YPC after his 2000th carry. Frank Gore had 6800 rushing yards after his 2000th carry. So it isn't always fatal...

those are 3 of the best backs in nfl history of the top 15.

 

i don't think Cook is there. the only current NFL RB that might be up there one day is Barkley and I am not even sure he will make it that far. I think Derrick Henry is on the cusp but not sure he will get there.

[Thurman#1]

On 8/14/2025 at 5:08 PM, Chandler#81 said:

I recall our last real game where Cook was called on to score or die on 4th down from the 2 yard line. I also recall he was going to be stopped short of the goal line before pulling off an unnatural flight while being virtually broken in half to reach the endzone. Cook is capable of extraordinary feats. $15 M? Pay the Man!

 

 

They didn't pay the man $15M. And there's a reason for that. The reason is he isn't (quite) worth it.

 

Was that a terrific play? Yup. 

 

 

On 8/14/2025 at 4:43 PM, Herc11 said:

 

Do people not realize that in negotiations, you don't start by throwing out the number you are expecting to get? It would be pretty dumb to start negotiations saying you'd take $12M.

 

He starts high, the team starts low and you meet somewhere in the middle. That's how negotiating works.

 

 

Please. What he did wasn't "in negotiations". He made a public announcement. 
 

This wasn't him talking to Beane, it was him announcing it to the world. 

 

Say it to Beane and after the deal's made the earlier offers are gone. Say it to the world and it's there forever. That's the amount he wanted. He didn't get it.

 

Still did very very well for himself, though.

Edited 3 hours ago by Thurman#1

[ganesh]

On 8/15/2025 at 9:39 AM, Beck Water said:

 

The devil is always in the details so we'll have to see, sure

In this case, $30M guaranteed is an important number.  Assuming he gets that in the first 2 years of the contract, Cook can look at it as he got is $15M a year, and the Bills can look at it as "we have the right to keep him for 4 years/$48M, making it $12M/yr.  So both sides can say they got what they wanted.
 

I believe the $30M guaranteed includes this years 5.6M guaranteed money... technically, he has 24M guaranteed  as part of the extension over the next four years (beyond this season).

[Thurman#1]

On 8/14/2025 at 6:50 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

Yes. I still say it was. The number 1 priority for the Bills going into 2020 was they needed to come out of it knowing for certain whether Josh Allen was the guy. He had a mixed rookie year, took some steps in 2019 but with plenty of inconsistency still present and in 2020 they needed no excuses can he be the guy for this team. Much easier to make that assessment with a veteran, elite, wide receiver than with a rookie - however good that rookie ultimately is. 

 

If they were faced with a similar decision today and they traded for the vet I'd hammer them. They know who Josh is, take a swing on the young talent. But in 2020 the priority was finding out for sure on Josh Allen and trading for Stefon Diggs allowed them to do that more than drafting any receiver in that class would have.

 

Also - though this supports your point re. them needing to better evaluate offensive talent - they weren't picking Jefferson there anyway. I have it on pretty good authority that at the point they made the trade the calculation they were talking through was vet Diggs vs rookie Tee Higgins. The draft was still six weeks away, so things could have changed.... but as at the point they made the trade I think the guy they were otherwise leaning towards picking at that spot was Tee. 

 

 

Ah, Bill, you're right, or right in your main idea there anyway. Dang it, I wonder if the details were there at the bottom all along for me to see, as they are now?

 

Dang me. Anyway, it's not in the form of an option bonus, but yeah, various portions of his 2026 salary slowly get guaranteed near the beginning of the league year for each of the next two years till you reach the whole guarantee, which is $28.82M, not $30M, by the way. All $28.82M is guaranteed against injury right at signing.

 

Only $15.28M is FULLY guaranteed at signing but about $10M more of his 2026 and 2027 salary FULLY guarantees by the fifth league day of 2026. That includes $6.22M of his 2027 salary. Which would mean he's unlikely to be cut for performance before the 2027 season unless he has plummeted like a rock. Which hopefully does not happen and is quite unlikely that early after his season at age 27.

 

$2.91M more will guarantee in February of 2027, but again, unless he's has massively regressed, they won't worry about that.

[Thurman#1]

On 8/15/2025 at 5:56 AM, QCity said:

So after the smoke settled it's $15.22M GTD, but with his $7.4M option bonus if he's on the roster in 2026 he's guaranteed to have ~$28M in his bank. So a slight embellishment by his agent (barring a year 1 catastrophic disaster of course). There's a painful out after year 2, and a easier out after year 3.

 

As I tried explaining a few months ago, AAV has nothing to do with this. The 2nd contracts for RBs are somewhat unique, as it's all about term AKA GTD money and how easy the team can walk away. So for the past 4 months everyone screaming "he's not worth $15M a year!" or "I would only give him 12.5M tops!" were just yelling past each other into the wind.

 

 

Nah, AAV matters here. Yeah, the guaranteed amount is also very important.

 

But if he plays out the contact (reasonably likely), he'll receive precisely the $46M over four years. And since his last year he receives $10.4 (plus $1M escalator each of the last two years if he plays 45% of snaps and we make the playoffs), even if he leaves a year early he'll have made nearly exactly the AAV times three years instead of four.