Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Bills Sign James Cook to 4-Year Deal, Handing Him the Highest Guarantee Among RBs Since the Past 5 Years!

Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

It has been said time and again that running backs no longer get paid substantial amounts of money. The league has gravitated so much as a pass-friendly one that the running backs’ overall workload has been reduced, and in turn, their contracts have taken a hit.

That hasn’t stopped the top-tier backs from stealing the show, and every year we have seen a minimum of one or two running backs produce exceptional seasons. And while James Cook may not have had the same effect as a Saquon Barkley or a Derrick Henry, he has still been an essential part of the Bills’ offense over the past couple of years.

James Cook’s Contract Details

The Buffalo Bills signed a new 4-year contract extension with running back James Cook, which will see him pocket a handsome amount of $48 million.

The long-term deal also comes with a huge guarantee of $30 million, which is the most for any running back over the past 5 years. Cook will now make $12 million in average annual salary, which is a big leap from the $1.45 million he is earning on his rookie deal.

Breaking: 2x Pro Bowl RB James Cook and the #Bills reached a four-year, $48 million contract extension with $30M guaranteed, his agents Zac Hiller & Matt Leist of LAA tell me and @RapSheet.

Despite logging just 48% of snaps last season, Cook will now make $12M a year and look… pic.twitter.com/stV1pFJ1gN
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 13, 2025

“James could only envision himself as a Buffalo Bill,” said an upbeat Zac Hiller, Cook’s agent, after negotiating the deal. “We are extremely thankful to the entire Bills organization and glad we could make this happen.”

In the hope of signing an extension quickly, Cook became yet another player to hold in at training camp this year. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Miami native had put up back-to-back 1,000-plus yards rushing seasons in 2023 and 2024. He also led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns last season.

James Cook got PAID 🤑

The $30M guaranteed is the most for a running back in the last five years, per @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/z2nYrW3EPB
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 13, 2025

Where Does Cook Rank Among the Highest-Paid Running Backs?

As far as the list of the highest-paid running backs is concerned, the 25-year-old comes in tied at the number 6 spot with the Packers’ running back Josh Jacobs. Both players are averaging $12 million per year, while Saquon Barkley’s $20.6 million annually sits at the top.

Highest-earning running backs in the league currently

Player	Average Salary
Saquon Barkley	$20.6 million
Christian McCaffrey	$19 million
Derrick Henry	$15 million
Jonathan Taylor	$14 million
Alvin Kamara	$12.3 million
Josh Jacobs	$12 million
James Cook	$12 million

Earlier in the offseason, Cook, who was on a live podcast, said that he just wants to be paid what he deserves. Additionally, he also stated on a live Instagram video that he was looking at a figure somewhere close to $15 million per season.

Thoughts on James Cook and Josh Allen this morning… pic.twitter.com/HN9mD4gJFT
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) August 13, 2025

With Super Bowl ambitions running at an all-time high in western New York, the Bills did well to hang on to an essential piece of their offensive system. Playing on a team that had lost multiple big-name players last season, Cook stepped up with key contributions, aiding quarterback Josh Allen and his teammates as Buffalo made it to the AFC Championship game.

Buffalo seems to be in a better place prior to the start of the new season. Reigning MVP, Josh Allen, will lead the charge, but he can now count on a hungrier and more motivated Cook to push the limits as they look to make it to a first Super Bowl in over three decades.

Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

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Devavrat Kulkarni

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I am a content writer for the NFL team, and joined The Playoffs after working with Sportskeeda and NFL Analysis as an NFL writer. After starting my professional career as a French-to-English translator, working as a content writer is a new adventure for me. I started out in the sports media field for two main reasons: my love for sports in general, especially the NFL, NBA, and Tennis, as well as my passion for writing. The best part of this job is that I get to write a variety of pieces with the freedom to explore content from various angles. It also enables me to stay up to date with the sporting world, which otherwise can be difficult to do in the day-to-day grind. In a world full of chaos, sports unite and entertain like nothing else!