The NFL offseason is as great of a time for realtors as it is for players, with mansions and penthouse apartments routinely going up for sale. James Cook seems to be the latest addition to the growing list of players changing their home base this off-season. Maybe this has nothing to do with the $15 million per year extension that he was denied by the Buffalo Bills. But most likely, it has everything to do with it.
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The Bills’ GM, Brandon Beane, recently ruled out a $15 million contract with Cook.
“I don’t talk about negotiations. I would say his reps and him did put it out there that we did talk, so I’m not sharing anything new. It didn’t lead to anything as far as closing in on a deal, so we moved onto the guys that we were on the same page with. At this points, we’re onto the draft. . . . I don’t see us doing any deals anytime soon,” Beane said to Matthew Bove of WKBW.
Now it seems Cook is on his way out of Buffalo. His decision to sell his Buffalo property indicates that he is looking to play elsewhere after his rookie contract expires next year.
It’s also possible that the 24-year-old is just looking for an upgrade. Located in the neighborhood of Hilltowne, Cook has listed his 2,090 square foot home, featuring a spacious backyard, perfect for family football games.
The listing also featured various pictures, some of which included game balls and jerseys that Cook had collected throughout his time in the league, and has a current asking price of $710,000.
After the news of the house being listed for sale broke online, many found themselves agreeing that the Bills would be better off not investing $15 million per year into the 25-year-old running back.
Not trynna knock his hustle but he’s not worth 15m/yr
— KJ (@KingxGlitchy) April 2, 2025
Given his recent success with the team, others were hoping to see him stay, albeit with a cheaper contract. Considering that a yearly salary of $15 million would make Cook the third-highest-paid running back in the league, placing him over the likes of Jonathan Taylor and Alvin Kamara, his current asking price isn’t very team-friendly.
Really hope they can work something out here. Cook's explosive plays were huge for Buffalo's offense last year, but 15M is steep for a RB in today's market. What do you think Bills Mafia – pay the man or let him walk?
— Nick (@NickMeta_) April 2, 2025
Cook is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. While the RB did the best that he could to secure an extension by leading the league in rushing touchdowns in 2024, his average yearly salary of $1,458,016 has proven to be incredibly efficient for the front office.
The Georgia product has certainly earned a pay increase, but his skillset may not be diverse enough to make him one of the highest-paid backs in football. His rushing total throughout the past two seasons is more akin to Najee Harris and D’Andre Swift rather than Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry.
The Bills also hold the 30th overall pick in what is going to be a very deep draft class for the running back position, giving the team even more leverage. Simply put, the skill set of Cook is rather easily replaceable at this point in time.
Buffalo is also one of the most limited teams in terms of cap space at the moment, with only the Browns and the Giants having a more constrained budget. Even if the Bills wanted to grant a massive extension, it would be incredibly difficult to achieve, given the current state of the team’s finances.
Getting paid as a running back is already difficult enough as it is. When it becomes cheaper for your team to replace you, it becomes even harder.
While Cook may manage to come to some sort of an agreement with the Bills in the future, it remains incredibly likely that it will not be at the current price that he is asking for. Nevertheless, both Cook and the Bills will continue to work in tandem as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 regular season, where they will once again hope to avenge their playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
