$33 Million Extension To Rams’ RB Spells End Of Bills’ James Cook Holdout

The season doesn’t start for Buffalo Bills fans until an agreement is reached with All Pro running back James Cook. It was announced today that the final domino might have fallen on the other side of the country, as the Los Angles Rams have agreed to terms on a contract extension with a star running back of their own, Kyren Williams.

ESPN’s lead NFL insider Adam Schefter broke the news on X this morning. He then revisited his own announcement to map out how it affects James Cook and the Buffalo Bills.

“Some around the league believed this was the deal, between Kyren Williams and the Rams, that had to get done before James Cook and the Bills escalated their contract talks,” Schefter’s post read.

Williams’ deal, that some are calling a “fleecing”, is a three year extension worth $33 million. More than two thirds of the contract is guaranteed for LA’s 24-year-old star.

New Running Back Market And What Cook Can Expect

It’s safe to say Kyren Williams did James Cook zero favors by accepting this deal. William’s extension makes him the seventh highest paid running back in the league. But just one year after we saw Saquon Barkley bring home the highest number in history, Williams’ deal seems to re-establish the status quo.

It is believed that Cook wanted a number in the true teens (13, 14, 15). But after a player like Kyren signs a deal like that, the Bills’ back has kind of lost his leverage.

“There’s no question that Cook has earned the right to a pay increase after back-to-back Pro Bowl campaigns and a 2024 season where he tied for the NFL’s lead in rushing scores,” writes Khari Demos of SI. “But if Williams’ deal has any influence on him in negotiations, the Buffalo brass must hope that Cook sees Williams’ deal as one to follow, not necessarily one to supersede.”

Cook and Kyren are similar in more than one way. Both backs are members of the 2022 NFL Draft class. Neither back had a good rookie year, but each are coming off back to back one thousand yard seasons. If anything, Kyren Williams statistical production has surpassed Cook’s over the years.

Last year Williams had nearly 300 more yards on the ground, while Cook bested him in touchdowns and big plays. However, the two players are used completely differently. Cook’s legs were being notably preserved through most of the regular season, as the back played in less than half of the offense’s snaps.

Williams, on the other hand, lead the entire NFL in offensive touches.

So in conclusion, it is expected that Williams could amass 300 more yards on 33% more carries. But this creates a whole new problem for Cook…

Does Cook Need To Come Down On The Number, Or Up On The Carries?

The Bills are a team that expect to make a deep playoff run every single season. As such, they have the liberty of being able to conserve players for the post season.

Is it fair then to point at a player’s lack of production as a contract negotiation tactic, even though that player was being withheld from playing?

There is no question that Cook could have posted an even better season had he seen the field more. He was top five in the league in yards per attempt, and had 15 rushes of 20 yards or more.

You cannot take a player out for the betterment of the team and then use that against him when asking him to take a more team friendly deal.

The Bills need to be careful, it is very possible that if they are not willing to pay Cook that kind of money, another team in the league will.