The Buffalo Bills have a strong stable of running backs. Arguably, it’s the positional group that has the least amount of worry from top to bottom, as any of the team’s top three backs have proven that can do the job in regular-season games. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady has shown a willingness to use all three players in games, as well, as each player has carved out a fairly significant role in the offense.
There was a time over the summer, however, where the running back depth was slightly in doubt.
While we all assumed that Buffalo’s top rusher would be in uniform for the team’s first game, he was vocal about wanting a new contract. After reporting to camp, he sat out some practices, as well.
Thankfully, all of that is in the rearview mirror, and Buffalo’s top running back is ready and armed with a new contract. In today’s installment of “90 players in 90 days,” we discuss the man who has been Buffalo’s top rusher for the past two seasons, and who will likely be their top rusher again in 2025.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Name: James Cook III
Number: 4
Position: RB
Height/Weight: 5’11”, 190 pounds
Age: 25 (26 on 9/25/2025)
Experience/Draft: 4; selected by Buffalo in the second round (No. 63 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft
College: Georgia
Acquired: Second-round draft choice
Financial situation (per Spotrac): While Cook signed a four-year, $46 million extension in August, that deal doesn’t fully kick in until next season. So, his cap number of $3,510,374 reflects the final year of his rookie contract. Some of the guarantees from the extension are counting this year, however, so the Bills would carry a dead-cap charge of $15,710374 if they released him.
2024 Recap: Cook reached 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season, becoming the first person since LeSean McCoy to accomplish that feat in back-to-back years (McCoy did it in 2016 and 2017). While Cook’s 1,009 rushing yards in 16 games was fantastic, it was his franchise record-tying 16 rushing touchdowns that really made it a career year for the third-year back. Cook did less as a receiver, catching 32 passes for 258 yards and a score, but averaged over five yards per touch for the third straight season on the way to his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod.
In the playoffs, Cook was a force, and he was truly the second-best player on the field for the Bills behind quarterback Josh Allen. He carried 53 times for 272 yards and three scores in the playoffs while catching all six of his targets for 64 more yards.
Positional outlook: Cook is the clear top back on the roster, with Ray Davis and Ty Johnson working in behind him. Reggie Gilliam is the fullback. Frank Gore Jr. is on the practice squad if necessary.
2025 Offseason: Cook’s hold-in created some extra drama for Hard Knocks, but it didn’t disturb much otherwise. He worked hard all offseason and was ready to roll for Week 1.
2025 Season outlook: In an offense where the quarterback is the reigning league MVP, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of the running back. However, offensive coordinator Joe Brady uses his backs quite well, and Cook has proven that he’s the perfect back for the team’s offensive system.
He provides the long-range burst that previous Buffalo rushers just didn’t have, but what’s most impressive about Cook’s game and its evolution throughout his career has been his toughness between the tackles. Whereas he was a bit of a dancer during his rookie season, he now hits the hole hard and with confidence. He’s capable of turning what looks like three yards and a cloud of dust into a 30-yard gain thanks to his ridiculous acceleration.
Where Cook hasn’t been quite as good as advertised is in the passing game. Coming out of college, it was suggested that he could be used almost like a slot receiver. That hasn’t materialized, and some high-profile drops have given the appearance that he isn’t a good receiver. The truth lies somewhere in between, as he’s definitely an effective player once he has the ball in his hands, but he’s not going to turn in Alvin Kamara-type numbers out of the backfield. Cook’s struggles in pass protection have been discussed at length — especially during the hold-in — but kudos to Brady for masking his players’ weaknesses and playing the right personnel at the right time.
Cook is unlikely to play a tremendous number of snaps, but he is likely to remain one of the league’s most-efficient running backs. He’s a house call waiting to happen each time he touches the football, and the Bills did a great job locking him in throughout his prime years.
