The Bills have wasted little time fortifying their future ahead of the 2025 season. The offseason was a time of continuity for Buffalo, who locked down Khalil Shakir, Terrel Bernard, Greg Rousseau and Josh Allen to long-term extensions.
On Wednesday, Sean McDermott's side added another. The Bills agreed to terms on a four-year, $48 million contract extension with James Cook, spelling an official end to the fourth-year tailback's temporary 'hold-in.'
Cook, a two-time Pro Bowler, posted 1,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024, co-leading the league in rushing scores in the latter campaign. A former second-round pick out of Georgia, Cook's production has impressed since making his big-league bow back in 2022. Now, he'll be rewarded for it.
With that, here's what you need to know about Cook's new-look contract, a deal that sees him earn more than the vast majority of starting RBs.
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James Cook contract details
- Years: 4
- Value: $48 million
Cook's contract is worth $48 million over four years, with $30 million guaranteed. He is receiving the most guaranteed money for a running back in the last five years, per Adam Schefter.
Cook was open about his desire to land a contract that would pay him $15 million a season, the joint-third-best mark in the NFL. His current deal ensures that he's not too far off that number.
Cook skipped voluntary offseason workouts before returning to the field for mandatory minicamp in June. He was an active participant for the first eight days of training camp before starting his hold-in. He returned to the practice field on Aug. 12, a tell-tale sign that an agreement was on the way.
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James Cook age
Cook is 25 years old. He'll turn 26 on Sept. 25. That would place him right at the prime of his career, still some ways off the expected decline date that organizations seem to superimpose upon running backs.
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Cook has proven fairly durable thus far in his NFL career, missing just one game. While freak setbacks can happen, his injury record had to give Buffalo a little more confidence to shell out such a large sum of money at the tailback position. Additionally, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry's success into their late-20s and early-30s does seem to indicate that it's possible for a running back to keep his production high as he ages.
James Cook career earnings
Per Spotrac, Cook has accrued $4,653,682 over the course of his career, which dates back to his maiden season with the Bills in 2022.
James Cook stats
| Season | G | Att | Yds | TD | Y/G | REC | YDS | TD |
| 2022 | 16 | 89 | 507 | 2 | 31.7 | 21 | 180 | 1 |
| 2023 | 17 | 237 | 1,122 | 2 | 66.0 | 44 | 445 | 4 |
| 2024 | 17 | 207 | 1,009 | 16 | 63.1 | 32 | 258 | 2 |
| Total | 49 | 533 | 2,638 | 20 | 53.8 | 97 | 883 | 7 |