Two-time Pro Bowl running back James Cook has agreed to a new four-year extension with the Bills, securing his spot long-term with the team until 2029. Cook is set to earn $12 million per season, with his deal containing $30m in guarantees – a league high – which now places him as the sixth-highest earning running back in average annual salary.

The Georgia graduate is coming off back-to-back 1,000-plus yard campaigns. In 2024, he led the team in carries with 207 and scored the joint-most rushing touchdowns league-wide with 16 – matched only by Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs and Baltimore Raven Derrick Henry. The 25-year-old recorded an impressive 4.9 yards per carry, again sixth among backs with a minimum of 150 carries.

Cook has also been an underrated target downfield for the 2024 MVP winner and quarterback Josh Allen. Since being drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, he has accumulated 97 receptions for 883 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Florida-raised halfback gave an albeit blunt but heartfelt response when asked why he wanted to remain a key part of an electrifying Buffalo offence, which ranked 10th in total yards (6105) and second in total points (525) in 2024.

“We have an awesome quarterback and organisation that drafted me,” Cook said. “I just want to spend the rest of my career here and be here forever.”

Cook joins cornerback Christian Benford, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, and linebacker Terrel Bernard as the fourth player to sign an extension from the 2022 draft class.

With stars secured on both sides of the football for the foreseeable future, Sean McDermott now must feel all parts of the puzzle are falling into place as Buffalo aim to reach Levi’s Stadium in early February with a chance at their first Lombardi trophy.