Where Kyren Williams, James Cook's New Contracts Should Rank on RB Market

As most NFL players prepare for training camp, early headlines will highlight potential holdouts and hold-ins. Among them, Kyren Williams and James Cook have reported to camp with hopes of signing new deals.

Even top running backs such as Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor have gone through recent contract disputes before inking new deals; the former signed with a new team last offseason.

Williams and Cook could be in for a long series of negotiations. Nonetheless, they've both earned pay raises. But where should their new deals rank on the running back market?

Let's review where negotiations stand with their respective teams, and what they could earn on extensions with a ranking for the top running back salaries based on average annual value.

6. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Projected extension: Three years, $39 million ($24 million guaranteed)

Early in the offseason, James Cook hinted that he wanted $15 million per year, which would tie Derrick Henry for third among the highest-paid running backs in average annual salary.

However, the 25-year-old isn't likely to bank that amount on an extension. Though his overall production is on the rise as a complete running back who can run and catch out of the backfield, the Buffalo Bills reportedly aren't eager to meet his contract demands.

According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Bills had contract talks with Cook's representatives early in the offseason, but the two sides were unable to close a sizable gap in negotiations.

"They had talks earlier in the offseason and my sense is that the two sides were never very close to finding real common ground," Breer wrote. "Which explains how quiet it's been on the Cook front since that flurry of Buffalo extensions."

Last year, Buffalo drafted running back Ray Davis in the fourth round. He took on a decent role, logging 130 touches for 631 yards and six touchdowns. Meanwhile, Cook saw a slightly lighter workload, logging 42 fewer touches than he did in 2023.

With Davis' development, running back Ty Johnson's return on a two-year extension and quarterback Josh Allen's involvement in the run game, Cook isn't going to see a massive workload, which may explain why general manager Brandon Beane is willing to be patient in contract talks.

Still, if Cook secures a new deal, his back-to-back Pro Bowl years could help him earn $13 million annually, which would make him the sixth-highest-paid running back per year.

5. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Derik Hamilton

Projected extension: Three years, $40.5 million ($25.5 million guaranteed)

Kyren Williams should slightly edge James Cook in salary. As of Tuesday, the Los Angeles Rams seem more willing to strike a new deal with him than the Buffalo Bills are with Cook.

While at training camp on Tuesday, Williams told reporters he "anticipates" working out an extension with the Rams. Head coach Sean McVay said the team will discuss contract matters with the player's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, on Wednesday.

According to The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue, the Rams won't reset the market with the 24-year-old's extension, but he has earned a significant pay raise.

"The Rams will not pay top-market money for a running back, but Williams is a team leader and one of the more productive at his position in the NFL," she wrote.

Williams' new deal should rank among the top five in average annual salary, at least one spot higher than Cook's contract.

Over the last two years, the Notre Dame product has outpaced Cook in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. In 2023, he led the league in rushing yards per game (95.3).

Additionally, during that span, Williams has carried a heavier workload than Cook, with 90 more touches than the Buffalo Bills running back while averaging at least 19 carries per game in both terms.

Lastly, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, 37, is at the tail-end of his career. He needed time to think about his NFL future this offseason. Even if backups Blake Corum and rookie fourth-rounder Jarquez Hunter contribute out of the backfield, Williams will still hold on to the lion's share of the workload.

Williams is more vital to the Rams offense than Cook is to the Bills' Josh Allen-led offense.

4. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

2023 extension: Three years, $42 million ($26.5 million guaranteed)

Jonathan Taylor edges Williams and Cook for the fourth spot on the contract scale due to his accolades, which matter in negotiations. He has a 2021 rushing title, two Pro Bowl seasons and an All-Pro campaign on his resume.

Yes, the 26-year-old has been in the league longer than Williams and Cook, but by the time he signed his three-year extension in 2023, the star tailback had led the league in rushing for a season in an All-Pro campaign and finished second in 2021 Offensive Player of the Year votes behind Cooper Kupp, who finished with the receiving triple crown.

Taylor went through an extended contract dispute that included a trade request to get his extension, and it was well-deserved for his role in an offense that relied heavily on him with Band-Aid quarterbacks under center.

As the Colts continue to work with an unsettled QB situation between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, Taylor could again be a workhorse ball-carrier if he stays healthy.

3. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File

2025 extension: Two years, $30 million ($25 million guaranteed)

Cook wants a contract that compares to Derrick Henry's recent deal in terms of average annual salary at $15 million, but the Baltimore Ravens ball-carrier has an absurd workload and hasn't seen a decline in production, which justifies his top-three contract at the position.

In four of the last six years, the Alabama product has logged the most carries across the league. He won back-to-back rushing titles in 2019 and 2020. This past season, he racked up 1,921 yards on the ground, which is the second-highest season total of his career.

On top of that, the five-time Pro Bowler has scored double-digit rushing touchdowns in seven consecutive seasons. He tied Cook for the second-most touchdowns from scrimmage (18) and accumulated the second-most yards from scrimmage (2,114) last year.

Even though Henry isn't as active in the short passing game as Cook is with the Buffalo Bills, he's still the most dominant downhill ball-carrier entering his age-31 term.

2. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Matt Ludtke

2024 extension: Two years, $38 million ($24 million guaranteed)

Christian McCaffrey leveraged his best year for a new deal.

In 2023, he racked up a league-leading 1,459 yards and 21 touchdowns from scrimmage. In the following offseason, the San Francisco 49ers signed him to a two-year, $38 million extension, which will keep him on the books through 2027.

Last season, the 29-year-old battled injuries, which limited him to just four appearances. Still, when healthy, he's arguably the most dynamic running back because of his pass-catching ability.

Remember, he is one of three players in NFL history with 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. He accomplished that feat in his third year during the 2019 campaign.

On a Hall of Fame trajectory with a rushing title, two All-Pro seasons and three Pro Bowl campaigns, McCaffrey remains in Tier 1 of running backs, and so will his contract at No. 2.

1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Derik Hamilton

2025 extension: Two years, $41.2 million ($36 million guaranteed)

Saquon Barkley is the NFL's top running back ahead of the 2025 season. He served a vital role in the Philadelphia Eagles' successful Super Bowl run, rushing for a league-high 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns last year.

In March, Philadelphia signed the 2018 No. 2 overall pick to a two-year, $41.2 million extension, which will keep him under contract with the team through 2028.

Based on average annual salary and guaranteed money, Barkley's contract tops the running back market, and that probably won't change any time soon. He's a three-time Pro Bowler, the 2024 rushing champion and won the 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year and 2024 Offensive Player of the Year awards.

At 28, Barkley's salary will pace the running back market, possibly until the Atlanta Falcons give Pro Bowler Bijan Robinson a new deal or the Detroit Lions sign two-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs to an extension in the next two years.

Player contract details are provided by Over the Cap unless otherwise noted.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.