This Buffalo Bills player is severely underpaid.
The Buffalo Bills have one of the best players in the NFL who is underpaid.
That's at least what Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report thinks.
In a column called "Every NFL Team's Most Underpaid Player Following Peak 2026 Free Agency," Gagnon named James Cook for the Bills' section.
"The 26-year-old celebrates his third consecutive season in this spot. Productive running backs on rookie deals are special, and Cook is the definition of that. He's gone over 1,200 scrimmage yards in three consecutive seasons and has scored 32 touchdowns the last two years combined, but the second-team All-Pro will rank 19th among backs with a $5.9 million salary-cap hit in 2026."
Cook led the NFL in rushing yards last season. He carried the ball 309 times for 1,621 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. The Pro Bowler also had 33 receptions for 291 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Cook will rank 19th among running backs with a $5.9 million salary-cap hit in 2026. That's a huge steal for the Bills.
Cook enters next season with 4,259 career rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns for the Bills, who still haven't reached the Super Bowl in the Josh Allen era. Cook and Allen have a new head coach, although it's someone they know very well.
Buffalo fired Sean McDermott and promoted OC Joe Brady to head coach.
"As much success as we've had over the last eight to nine seasons, we still haven't been able to get the main job done," Allen said after Brady was hired as HC. "So again, what does that look like? Who's involved in those decisions of what it looks like? But I truly believe in the direction of this organization, starting from the top. And I think that, again, whatever Joe needs from me I'm going to do. And I think that it's the right decision for this organization."
A future Hall of Famer, Allen enters next season with 30,102 passing yards, 220 passing touchdowns, 4,721 rushing yards and 79 career rushing touchdowns. The Bills acquired WR D.J. Moore from the Chicago Bears this offseason, giving Allen a true No. 1 target.
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