Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is looking for a new contract, and he might not get it without a trade. A second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Georgia product spent his rookie season in a backup role but earned the full-time starting job in 2023 and 2024. Making the Pro Bowl in each season, Cook has recorded a combined 2,131 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons while adding another 76 receptions for 703 yards and six touchdowns through the air.
Nobody is confusing Cook with prime Barry Sanders, but he’s established himself as one of the league’s better starters. Now entering the final year of his contract, the running back skipped OTAs while looking for a new contract. The Bills don’t seem interested in meeting his financial demands, which means they could try and trade James Cook to one of the following five teams.
James Cook Skips Practice Amid Contract Woes, Could Demand Trade
Possible Fits
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears tried to add a running back early in the 2025 NFL Draft, falling just short of landing Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty in the first round and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson in the second. D’Andre Swift currently has the starting job, but first-year head coach Ben Johnson would probably prefer someone else. A James Cook trade would give Chicago one of the most well-rounded offenses in football and could be enough to support a deep playoff run with a (hopefully) improved Caleb Williams.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have what will probably be the weakest running back room in the NFL. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders are both past their prime, and nobody should place too much hope in a fifth-round pick like Jaydon Blue. Owner Jerry Jones hasn’t invested in the running back position since using the franchise tag on Tony Pollard in 2023, but that could change soon. A James Cook trade would dramatically upgrade this backfield and give Dallas a dangerous ground game to pair with a high-octane passing attack.
Washington Commanders
Brian Robinson is a fine running back, but the Washington Commanders can do better. A franchise quarterback on a rookie contract is the biggest advantage in professional sports, and Jayden Daniels fits that description. With the LSU product playing at a bargain rate, Washington can afford to trade for James Cook and spend big on a luxury position.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are not Super Bowl contenders, but that shouldn’t stop them from calling the Bills about a potential James Cook trade. First-year head coach Liam Coen loves to run the football but doesn’t seem to have faith in Travis Etienne or Tank Bigsby. Perhaps fourth-round pick Bhayshul Tuten can surprise early, but Cook could be the leader of this backfield for years to come. If Coen can do to Trevor Lawrence what he did to Baker Mayfield, this team could make some noise in a weak AFC South.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Buffalo Bills will never trade James Cook to a hated conference rival like the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the fit here is too good to ignore. Isiah Pacheco is nothing special as a player, Kareem Hunt is over the hill, and Elijah Mitchell hasn’t done anything of note since his rookie season. Cook would easily be the best all-around back on this roster and could add yet another explosive element to what should be one of the game’s best offenses.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images
