James Cook signs 4-year, $48 million contract extension to end hold-in
Cook returned to practice as a full participant and, less than 24 hours later, a deal was done.
As the Buffalo Bills were preparing to practice Tuesday, coach Sean McDermott told reporters that circumstances had changed with his two-time Pro Bowl running back, James Cook.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) rushes with the ball during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.
Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News
Cook returned to practice as a full participant and, less than 24 hours later, a deal was done. His hold-in officially ended Wednesday with Cook signing a four-year, $48 million contract that includes $30 million in guarantees and runs through the 2029 season.
"These are hard," said general manager Brandon Beane. "They’re never easy. I think you just try and keep working at it. Obviously, this was something we had conversations back in the spring. We had to push pause and focus on the draft and other things. Something we said we’d try to revisit when we got to training camp. Unfortunately, you never want a hold-in, hold our or any of that stuff. ... At the end of the day, you guys know our motto here, we want to draft, develop and re-sign. ... Fortunately, late last night, we got it across the finish line."
A consecutive 1,000-yard rusher, Cook was tied for the NFL lead in rushing touchdowns last season (16). He became the first Bills player since O.J. Simpson to score 20-plus touchdowns between the regular season and playoffs. After gaining 1,267 scrimmage yards, Cook wanted to be paid like one of the best running backs in the NFL. His cap hit for 2025, the final season of his rookie contract, ranked 18th at the position.
The 2022 second-round draft pick went public with his request this offseason and, even though the two sides couldn't agree on a deal, Cook reported to mandatory minicamp in June to avoid hefty fines. He did the same for training camp at St. John Fisher University and participated in eight practices before he chose to sit out. There seemed to be momentum in negotiations last week, with Cook agreeing to dress but not play in the Bills' preseason opener.
While running behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL in 2024, Cook helped the Bills transform into one of the highest scoring attacks in the league. They ranked 10th in yards per game, third in EPA per play and their running game had the ninth-most runs of 10-plus yards. Cook's production continued in the postseason, with 120 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Broncos and 85 yards with two touchdowns in the AFC championship game loss.
The $30 million guaranteed is the third-highest figure among running backs, ranking only behind Saquon Barkley and rookie Ashton Jeanty.
