When the offseason began to take shape, running back James Cook became a central figure of the Bills discourse. Buffalo’s top ball carrier, who broke out in 2024 and tied a franchise record for most touchdowns in a single season with 16, is set to become an unrestricted free agent during the 2026 offseason.
Cook has not been shy about it, either. Ahead of the NFL Combine in February, Cook insinuated on social media that he was looking for $15 million per season in his new deal. Since that post, the Bills have gone on to extend four players at the end of their rookie contracts, who, similarly to Cook, were set to become free agents during the 2026 offseason.
That spree included four core members of the team’s roster: cornerback Christian Benford, defensive end Greg Rousseau, linebacker Terrel Bernard and wide receiver Khalil Shakir.
Cook very publicly entered training camp this week without a new deal, but elected to practice fully even without it. On Thursday, speaking for the first time since minicamp in June, Cook was candid about his situation.
“I mean, we have talks. I’m never going to give up,” Cook said. “I mean, I deserve it — what I want, what I need. It’s going to eventually happen.”
Cook was then asked how confident he was that a new deal would get done with the Bills.
“I mean, however it happens, it’s going to get done. Wherever it happens,” the running back said.
The running back has repeatedly said he wants to end his career with the Bills, and there has never been a hint of contentiousness between the two sides. Even on Thursday, he called the Bills a great organization to play for.
Despite that, his words provided a clear opening for the 2025 season to be his last with the team. Cook’s comments come a day after Bills general manager Brandon Beane met with reporters and spoke at length about the situation.
“As I’ve said all along, I love James Cook. You know how I am. I want to draft, develop, re-sign our own,” Beane began. “It is a business. We have to fit it in, not only cash, but cap, and sometimes, you can look at it and say, ‘Well, you know, you go to this website or whatever, they could fit him in if they did this and this.’ But we also have to look at ’26, ’27 and beyond, because you can walk yourself into one of those years where you’re like, ‘Oh man, there’s not a lot of guys, we can take them out here.’ We would have to trade or cut someone that we wouldn’t want to lose. … So all those things have to make sense for us to fit in him.”
There was some national speculation heading into camp that Cook could hold in, but the running back said he never even considered it as an option.
“It’s my job. I’ve got to participate so I won’t get fined. It’s just come out here and show them that I’m ready to go and earn what I’ve got to go get,” he said, adding that he felt it gave him a little leverage. “I don’t owe it to nobody but my teammates and myself and my family. So by me participating, showing my teammates that I love the game and that I’m willing to be out here.”
Part of the case against Cook is how infrequently he played on all three downs, even during his breakout campaign. The Bills split their running back work between three players — Cook, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson — which led to Cook receiving under 50 percent of offensive snaps in his games played, despite his breakout statistical season. Part of Cook’s motivation is to prove his three-down ability in 2025.
“I feel like I can do it and I am going to do it,” he said. “Get more involved in the pass game instead of the run game. Just being out there on third downs. That’s my job. That’s what I’m trying to do. And you know, just whatever I can do to help the team, like I said, win games and contribute. I’m willing to do it.”
Although the sides appear to be dug in for the time being, both remain open to the idea of continuing the partnership past 2025.
“I can tell you, I’m hopeful when we’re sitting here at next year’s training camp that James is out there practicing, you know, and still representing the red, white and blue,” Beane said.
(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)
