Rams extension sets market for Bills RB James Cook

The Los Angeles Rams may have done the Buffalo Bills a huge favor.

On Tuesday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Rams extended running back Kyren Williams on a three-year, $33M contract, including $23M guaranteed.

Williams was set to play 2025 on an expiring rookie contract prior to landing his extension.

Just in: Rams RB Kyren Williams reached agreement on a three-year, 33 million extension, including $23 million guaranteed.

per Drew and Jason Rosenhaus.

pic.twitter.com/mn9S8XR2eK The signing is excellent news for the Bills, who are embroiled in a contract dispute with running back James Cook, who sat out a second consecutive practice on Monday with negotiations ongoing.

Like Williams, Cook is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract.

Both backs were members of the 2022 draft class and have comparable numbers through three seasons.

In 38 career games, Williams, a former fifth-round pick who is nearly one year younger than Cook, has 579 carries, 2,582 rushing yards (4.5 yards per carry) and 26 rushing touchdowns.

When adding his receiving stats, Williams has 654 career touches for 3,046 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Cook, selected in the second round, has appeared in 49 games and has 533 carries, 2,638 rushing yards (4.9 yards per carry) and 20 rushing touchdowns.

He's been more of a factor in the pass game, and enters 2025 with 630 total touches, 3,521 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Earlier this offseason, Cook divulged he was seeking a contract worth $15M annually, which would tie him with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry for the third-highest average annual value (AAV) among backs, only trailing the previous two Associated Press Offensive Players of the Year, Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley.

With Williams set to earn $11M per year (the seventh-highest among running backs), Cook's request looks more unrealistic.

Based on their production, Cook doesn't have a case for demanding $4M more per season than Williams.

The Bills, meanwhile, got another data point that suggests Cook must budge from his stance if he wants to secure his future beyond 2025.

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports.

He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, mens and womens college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf.

He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans.

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