James Cook Says He's 'Standing on Business' amid Desire for New Bills Contract

Coming off the best season of his career, James Cook is looking for a new contract from the Buffalo Bills.

Appearing on the Nightcap show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk), Cook explained he's "standing on business" in looking for a new deal this offseason.

"I’m gonna stand on what I stand on," Cook said. "I don’t want to feel like a cancer at all ‘cause I don’t like that attention. That’s not me, honestly. I’m just standing on business, man, and what I deserve."

In a recent Instagram Live session, Cook pinned his comment that said he is seeking $15 million per season on a contract extension.

Those are certainly lofty ambitions for Cook. An average annual salary of $15 million would make him the second-highest-paid running back in the NFL, behind only Christian McCaffrey ($19 million).

This offseason marks the first time that Cook, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft, is eligible to sign an extension. He will earn $5.2 million in base salary next season on the final year of his rookie contract.

The Bills are one of five teams currently over the projected 2025 salary cap, so they will have to make some contract adjustments before the new league year begins on March 12.

Cook has taken over as Buffalo's No. 1 running back since the start of the 2023 season. He has run for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two years and tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns during the 2024 campaign.