The Buffalo Bills contract negotiations with star RB James Cook haven’t gone as smoothly as either side likely had hoped entering the month of July. The situation hasn’t come completely unraveled yet, but the FSU product has made it clear he wants to get a new contract before the start of the 2025 NFL season.
The longer this contract negotiation drags, the longer the door will stay open for another Bills RB to produce a breakout season for the Buffalo offense in 2025.
Ray Davis is a Dark Horse Candidate for a Breakout Year in 2025
James Cook’s explosion for 18 total touchdowns last season didn’t leave a ton of room for other Bills running backs to put up monster numbers, but Buffalo still got a solid rookie year from Ray Davis in 2024.
Davis shined when given an expanded role in Week 6 against the New York Jets with 152 total yards on 23 touches, which could be the most compelling data to suggest the Kentucky product is a legitimate breakout candidate if Cook misses any time holding out for a new deal into the 2025 NFL season.
Randy Gurzi of Sports Illustrated came away impressed with Davis’ performance in 2024 too. Gurzi wrote, “A fourth-round pick out of Kentucky, Davis ran for 442 yards with three touchdowns. He added another three touchdowns and 189 yards on 17 receptions.”
The per-touch efficiency numbers weren’t great averaging 3.91 yards per carry over his 113 rushing attempts last year, but proved in college he is fully capable of being a high-volume ball carrier when called upon.
Gurzi added, “His first season was similar to Cookâs, who had 507 rushing yards and 180 receiving yards with three total touchdowns. He then broke out in his second campaign with 1,567 yards from scrimmage.”
The usage comparison makes sense given they play in the same offense alongside the same quarterback, but Cook didn’t have to compete with himself back in his breakout season in 2023 like Davis is expected to in 2025.
Gurzi concluded, “Davis might not have as much of a leap in numbers, but like Cook, his workload is likely to increase which should result in a much better season for the former Wildcat. Whether they want to admit, it would also be a way for Buffalo to see if they need to change their stance on Cookâs extension.”
The Impact of James Cook’s Potential Holdout for Ray Davis
Ultimately, any breakout year for Davis is largely going to depend on the availability of Cook.
If Cook misses time via holdout or due to injury, then Davis is the first man up for early down work with Ty Johnson handling the majority of passing down work.
In this scenario, Davis would have the opportunity to show the Bills there isn’t a significant dropoff in production when Cook is out of the lineup.
Davis needs to clean up his reads a bit, which would help raise his per touch efficiency — but the flashes of a back who can be a successful ball carrier in the NFL were certainly present in his rookie year.
If Cook and the Bills get a new deal done ahead of the 2025 NFL season, then Davis will likely have to make the most of his 100 touches in a complementary role.
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