The Buffalo Bills have a heavy contract situation on their hands regarding running back James Cook.
Cook is in the final year of his rookie deal, and there is a good chance he will be playing his last season in Buffalo.
James Cook Could Be Playing His Last Season In Buffalo
The 25-year-old running back had a great 2024 season, rushing for 1,009 yards and 16 scores.
The Bills must determine what to do with Cook’s contract, and as of now, it may not make the most sense to offer him a deal, since running backs tend to wear down sooner than players in most other positions.
Buffalo should play out the season with Cook and then revisit contract talks before the start of free agency in early March.
As of right now, Cook is not sitting out training camp due to not having a new contract for next season. Many star NFL players will hold out of camp until they secure a new deal, but Cook has been a great sport and has done everything the organization has asked of him.
If there is a scenario where Cook doesn’t want to play this season and decides to rethink and hold out, then the Bills might need to add another running back.
Since it’s almost August and there aren’t many great free-agent running backs available, the Bills could consider trading for one.
One running back that has been thrown out in trade talks over the past year is Jacksonville Jaguars’ Travis Etienne.
Bills Could Trade For Travis Etienne
David Latham from Last Word On Sports thinks the Bills would be a good trade fit for Etienne if the Jaguars decide to move him.
“James Cook still doesn’t have a contract, which means the Buffalo Bills should invest in a Plan B at the running back position. While it’s unlikely Cook’s holdout continues into the regular season, Buffalo must prepare for that worst-case scenario,” Latham wrote. “Fourth-round pick Ray Davis isn’t ready to start, and a Travis Etienne trade could help secure the running back position for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Etienne isn’t as good as Cook, but he can start and support Josh Allen through the air and on the ground.”
Etienne is an interesting choice for the Bills, as he is similar to Cook, having only one year remaining on his contract.
Since Etienne was a first-round pick during the 2021 NFL Draft, he was able to get his fifth-year option picked up, and that is what he will be playing on this season for $6 million.
The former Clemson star has rushed for 2,691 yards and 18 scores over the last three years.
Etienne missed all of his rookie season due to an injury, so this year is only his fourth season playing games in the NFL.
It will be interesting to see if Buffalo wants to trade for any running backs during training camp, and if they do, there is a good chance they will try to acquire one with few years remaining under contract.
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