James Cook contract, explained: Why Bills RB not attending Buffalo's voluntary offseason workouts

Morgan Moriarty

•
James Cook contract, explained: Why Bills RB not attending Buffalo's voluntary offseason workouts image

NFL teams across the league are starting their voluntary offseason workouts this week. Although the workouts are purely voluntary, as required by the NFLPA, some players are not attending the start of those workouts. 

One of those players is Buffalo Bills running back James Cook. Cook, who is entering the last year of his contract, did not attend Buffalo's start of workouts on Tuesday. 

Let's run through everything to know about Cook's whereabouts, as well as his contract situation with the Bills. 

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

Where is James Cook? 

As far as where Cook specifically is, that's currently unknown. Where he is not is at the Bills' voluntary workouts, which began on Tuesday. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane told reporters as such when asked: 

The NFLPA strictly states that these workouts are strictly voluntary, and that teams cannot indicate that the workouts are not voluntary.

Cook rushed for 1,009 yards with 16 touchdowns last season and was an integral part of Buffalo's offense. The Bills selected Cook out of Georgia in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, with the No. 63rd overall pick. 

MORE: Why George Kittle is not at 49ers' voluntary workouts

James Cook contract details

Cook is entering the final year of his rookie contract he signed in 2022. He is set to earn $5.3 million during his final contract year. Last month, it was reported that the Bills paused contract negotiations with their star running back. Cook was seeking a $15 million per year extension from the Bills.  

"I don't see us getting something done anytime soon," Beane said at the NFL owners meeting last month. "We're on to the draft. Just because we don't get something done this year doesn't mean we can't get something done before he's a free agent."

Cook, making $15 million annually, would make him the third highest-paid back in the league, behind Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley and San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey. 

The Bills awarded Josh Allen a historic six-year, $330 million new contract earlier this year, $250 million of which is fully guaranteed. Allen was asked about the situation, adding that his teammates in the locker room "understand the business side of things" and said he Cook is working out on his own: 

As for Cook, he has been posting photos of himself playing for the Bills on his Instagram, for what it's worth. 

We'll see just how long it may take for Cook and Buffalo to come to an agreement. In the meantime, don't expect him to attend the voluntary workouts anytime soon. 

Morgan Moriarty

Morgan Moriarty joined The Sporting News as a content producer in the fall of 2024. Her sports journalism career started at the University of Florida in 2012, where she graduated in 2015. She has covered college football and basketball, the NFL and numerous other major sports for outlets like the Tampa Bay Times, Saturday Down South, UPROXX Sports and SB Nation. She also covers college football for Bleacher Report, and is a featured guest on various CNN programs.