James Cook, Buffalo Bills agree to four-year, $48 million contract extension

The Buffalo Bills and running back James Cook agreed to a four-year contract extension, per multiple reports. After a hold-in, Cook returned to practice Tuesday and by Wednesday morning, had a new deal.

The deal is worth four years, $48 million, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal comes with $30 million guaranteed, locking Cook in with Buffalo for years to come. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported it was the most guaranteed money for a running back in the last five years.

The Georgia alum was heading into the final season of his rookie contract, where he was set to make $5,701,374. Through his first three seasons, he’s made a total of $4,653,682.

Cook’s return to practice came exactly a week after fellow running back Kyren Williams of the Los Angeles Rams signed a three-year, $33M extension with the franchise, making him the seventh highest-paid running back in the league. Although Williams totaled 290 more rush yards last season, Cook found the endzone two more times.

The Miami native was a four-star recruit out of Miami Central (Miami, FL) and was the No. 39 ranked player in the Class of 2018. He committed to the University of Georgia, where he’d play from 2018-2021. While a member of the Georgia roster, Cook rushed for 1,503 yards and 14 touchdowns and won the College Football Playoff National Championship in his final season of collegiate football.

He was selected with the No. 63 overall pick in the Second Round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Bills and has solidified himself as the franchise running back in that span. In three seasons, Cook has played in 49 games. He boasts 2,638 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 533 attempts, along with 97 receptions for 883 yards and seven more scores