This time a year in the NFL is all about teams getting ready for the start of the season and players wanting new contracts. A handful of players entered training camp last week looking for a new deal. One of those players was Buffalo Bills running back James Cook.
James Cook Wants A New Contract
Cook is in the final year of his contract, and a new deal is unlikely to be reached soon. Earlier this offseason, Cook was on an Instagram Live stream, commenting that he wanted $15 million a season. Paying a running $15 million a year is hard for any team to afford, let alone a franchise paying a quarterback a substantial amount.
There is no question how good Cook is, but running back is a position that most teams won’t pay for. Running backs start to slow down on their second contract, which makes them less valuable.
Buffalo’s offense is run through Josh Allen, who does a lot of the running as well. Cook seems like he’s in a weird situation at the moment that could change soon.
Another player who is having a contract dispute is Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons. One Friday, the All-Pro asked to be traded from Dallas since they hadn’t offered him a contract.
With only five weeks until the regular season, the Cowboys’ backs are against the wall on what to do with Parsons. Parsons will likely sit out and not play in any games until the team offers him the contract he wants.
If Dallas decides to trade Parsons, then the Bills should be all over it. Buffalo’s Super Bowl window is now, and adding a player like Parsons would make them Super Bowl favorites.
Bills Trade James Cook For Micah Parsons
Since both the Bills and Cowboys have players who want new deals, they could be traded for each other. Jarrett Bailey from Sporting News came up with a trade proposal that sends Cook to the Cowboys for Parsons.
- Cowboys get: 2026 first-round pick, 2026 fourth-round pick, 2027 second-round pick, RB James Cook
- Bills get: EDGE Micah Parsons
“Cook didn’t receive a contract extension from the Bills this offseason and is set to be a free agent in 2026. The Cowboys have long-needed a game-changing running back, and Buffalo still has Ty Johnson and Ray Davis to rely upon in the backfield,” Bailey wrote. “Whatever the Bills can do, outside of trading Josh Allen, should all be considered.”
Dallas loves having a star running back, and at one time, they had Ezekiel Elliott, who took over the league in 2016. When quarterback Dak Prescott has a great running game, the offense is one of the best in the NFL. Since Dallas doesn’t have a great running back on their roster, Cook would be a huge upgrade.
Both teams would fill needs on their roster, with Buffalo needing a pass rusher and Dallas needing a running back. An issue is that Dallas will likely want two first-round picks, and parting with Cook and two first-rounders would be too much.
Bills Send RB James Cook In Trade Pitch For All-Pro Pass Rusher