Fresh off a huge 2024 season, James Cook earned some immense respect from some of his potential future bosses.
The Buffalo Bills running back was recognized as the No. 8 running back in the NFL in ESPN’s top-10 running backs list as judged by coaches, scouts and executives, which was unveiled Monday.
Cook is of course coming off a career year where he scored 16 rushing touchdowns and found paydirt 18 times total while also putting up 1,267 all-purpose yards in just 16 games.
Cook is lobbying for a new contract from the Bills, and he has also been the center of trade rumors due to his desire for a new deal. The fourth-year running back, who Buffalo chose with the No. 63 pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract and is seeking a raise from his $5.271 million salary.
Why Is James Cook The No. 8 Running Back in the NFL?
ESPN.com writer Jeremy Fowler noted Cook as an honorable-mention member from the 2024 list. But Cook’s second straight Pro Bowl season, and his ability to complement MVP Josh Allen, earned him a spot among the NFL’s top 10.
“He’s perfect for that offense, with a quarterback that spreads things out,” an unidentified AFC executive told ESPN. “He’s good in the passing game, catches the ball really well, good in open space. Not sure he’s elite yet, but he’s really, really good.”
Cook’s usage in the passing game dropped in 2024, since he finished with 32 catches, which was 12 fewer than he had in 2023. But Fowler cited his 3.1 yards-per-rush before contact, which led to a league personnel executive to call him “dangerous and explosive.”
Fowler also noted the fact Cook moved atop the Bills’ single-season rushing touchdown record (16), which he accomplished in just 207 carries. Even though teams are leery of his durability, there is clearly interest in the 25-year-old back’s services, since one talent evaluator rated him as high as fourth on the list.
“He’s averaging 222 carries per season as the starter, and some teams are curious about how he would hold up as a 300-carry No. 1 back at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds,” Fowler wrote. “But either way, he has earned leaguewide respect at a time when he’s seeking a contract extension from Buffalo.”
Which RBs Are Ranked Ahead Of James Cook?
The list is a who’s-who of the best running backs, which is impressive since Cook is just two seasons removed from a timeshare with Devin Singletary.
No surprise, the 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles picked up the top spot on the list after his record-setting 2,504 rushing-yard season between the regular season and playoffs.
Barkley earned all but one first-place vote, and the other went to No. 2-ranked Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens.
Here is the full top-10 list of NFL running backs:
- Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
- Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens,
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
- Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
- Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
- Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
- Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
- James Cook, Bills
- Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Honorable mention: Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings; Breece Hall, New York Jets; Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins; James Conner, Arizona Cardinals.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bills RB James Cook Earns Surprising Rank in ESPN’s Execs’ Top 10 List appeared first on Heavy Sports.