As the Bills eye the 2025 season, star RB James Cook's contract holdout looms. Will the 2024 TD leader be ready for camp or will negotiations derail their plans?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The NFL calendar may be in its quietest phase, but a storm is brewing in Orchard Park. With training camp just weeks away, the Buffalo Bills, fresh off a 13-4 AFC East-winning season, face a significant question mark not on the field, but at the negotiating table. Star running back James Cook's unresolved contract extension has become the dominant storyline, creating a cloud of uncertainty as the team prepares for a high-stakes season.
I don't know, man. We will see when camp comes.
After a phenomenal 2024 season where he tied a franchise record with 16 rushing touchdowns, James Cook is looking to be paid like the elite back he has become. While GM Brandon Beane has successfully locked up other members of the 2022 draft class like Khalil Shakir and Terrel Bernard, Cook's deal remains elusive. He's stated he expects to be at camp on July 23, but his non-committal quote about his level of participation has sent ripples through the Bills Mafia. The team needs its offensive weapon, and this holdout-in-the-making is the last thing you want heading into a season with championship expectations.
While the front office wrestles with contracts, the training staff can breathe a sigh of relief. Head Coach Sean McDermott confirmed he anticipates no lingering injury issues for the start of training camp. Key players like LB Dorian Williams (elbow) and OL Ryan Van Demark (hand) are expected to be full-go. Even DE Joey Bosa (calf) and WR Joshua Palmer, who had minor issues during spring workouts, are on track. A healthy roster is the first critical ingredient for a deep playoff run, and on that front, the Bills are starting from a position of strength.
The 2025 Bills defense will feature a compelling mix of the old and the new. The locker room is buzzing with the return of beloved cornerback Tre'Davious White, who rejoined the team in April after seven seasons and is poised to provide veteran leadership in the secondary. He'll be mentoring a crop of new talent acquired in a defense-heavy 2025 draft. With first-round CB Maxwell Hairston and second-round DT T.J. Sanders leading the class, GM Brandon Beane made a clear statement: stopping the high-powered offenses of the AFC is priority number one.
As if the on-field storylines weren't enough, the Bills will be under the national microscope as the featured team on HBO's 'Hard Knocks.' It's a massive stage for the team and for reigning MVP Josh Allen. Despite the cameras, Allen is focused on chemistry, expressing his excitement for camp life. 'I love camp. I love being with the guys in the dorm rooms... getting to know guys on a deeper level,' he said. That bonding will be crucial as he works to integrate new receiving weapons and lead this team back to the top of the AFC.
The quiet before the storm is almost over. All eyes now turn to St. John Fisher University on July 23rd. Will James Cook be a full participant? How will the new-look defense gel? And what drama will the 'Hard Knocks' cameras capture? The answers are coming soon, and for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the work is about to begin.
