James Cook not at start of Bills' offseason program; Brandon Beane looks ahead to draft
Two-time Pro Bowl running back James Cook is not at One Bills Drive for the start of the team’s voluntary offseason program, general manager Brandon Beane said Tuesday.
The Buffalo Bills are back to work this week, with one notable absence.
Two-time Pro Bowl running back James Cook is not at One Bills Drive for the start of the team’s voluntary offseason program, general manager Brandon Beane said Tuesday.
“It’s voluntary,” Beane said when asked about the significance of Cook’s absence. “So, guys come and go. Guys have things going on. Try not to look too far into it. We could all assume he’s not here because he’s unhappy with his contract or whatever, but that’s not fair. He hasn’t told me that. No one’s told me that he said that, but I think that’s kind of unfair to say he’s not here because of that. It doesn’t mean he’s not here next week or the week after. He’ll be ready to go, though.”
Bills general manager Brandon Beane speaks to the media Tuesday during his annual pre-draft news conference. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Cook is heading into the final year of his rookie contract. He tied a single-season franchise record last year with 16 rushing touchdowns in the regular season, and has made it known publicly that he’s seeking a contract extension.
Beane reiterated Tuesday what he said last month: There are no updates on an extension.
“Look forward to James putting on our helmet again this year and doing well for us,” the GM said. “I know he plans that. James is a competitive dude, and look forward to that. That’s really probably where we’re at.”
Beane said he didn’t know when or if Cook would report for the offseason program. Cook ran for 1,009 yards and caught 32 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns in 2024. He tied Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs for the NFL lead in rushing touchdowns in the regular season, then added 272 yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs.
Quarterback Josh Allen said players inside the locker room understand the business side of the game.
“I'm not the GM, not the head coach,” Allen said. “I know I feel like I have to wear a few different hats among the locker room, but that's not one of them. ...
“I know James is working out and getting the work done there, too. Hopefully that gets figured out, but it'll get figured out when it gets figured out.”
The Bills have handed out extensions this offseason to Allen, linebacker Terrel Bernard, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, edge rusher Greg Rousseau and cornerback Christian Benford.
This week, Beane’s attention is on the NFL draft, which begins with the first round Thursday and continues through Saturday. The Bills currently hold 10 selections, including two in the second round.
In a news conference Tuesday that lasted about 45 minutes, Beane spoke on several draft-related topics. He agreed with the idea that it’s a good year for defensive linemen in the draft but added the team doesn’t have 30 prospects graded as first-rounders.
He said he likes the value that comes with having those two second-round picks, at No. 56 (acquired via the Stefon Diggs trade to Houston last year) and No. 62 overall.
“I think it’s a good year to have a couple of those,” he said. “I think there’s value where we’re picking.”
This year’s draft is unusual in that not a single first-round draft pick has changed hands via trade yet. Beane didn’t have a great working theory on why that is but didn’t necessarily think that would continue. The NFL has never had a draft in the common era (since 1967) in which every team kept and used their original first-round pick.
“I think there is still going to be plenty of action through the weekend,” Beane said. “I just think enough people are going to want to target certain positions, certain players in certain rounds.”
That could include the Bills. Beane agreed with the idea that it’s unlikely 10 drafted rookies could make the Bills’ 53-man roster. That means he could move some of those picks in a deal to go up the draft board.
“I think that’s where it’s very important that you set a board … (with) the right value of the player,” he said. “You never want to turn a pick in and go, ‘This guy’s got no shot to make your roster.’ So I think if we start trending towards that, that’s where we either start trying to move up or trade something for a next year’s pick.”
Beane has moved both ways in the first round. Last year, he traded out entirely, and the two years before that, he moved up.
“Sitting as late as we pick, it's so hard every year,” he said. “We've done a few mocks, and it can go so many different ways on who is really there. There are so many different ways it can go this year as I can remember.”
We’ll find out the answer Thursday night.