NFL Contract Details: Stafford, White, Moss
Here are recently released details on deals from around the NFL:
- Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): Two years, $84MM. This restructured deal was announced two weeks ago, but the details were just recently announced, including $40MM of guaranteed money. $4MM of the $84MM comes in the form of a roster bonus paid out in March, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. The remaining $80MM is split evenly over the next two seasons with $16MM base salaries and four $6MM bonuses ($24MM total) in each year. The bonus structure gives Los Angeles a bit of flexibility with the salary cap. The $40MM from 2025 is what makes up the guaranteed amount, and the 2026 $40MM fully guarantees on the fifth day of the new league year. On The Breer Report, Breer also mentioned that the new deal pays out $26MM more than Stafford was set to earn through 2026 and that Stafford essentially turned down what could’ve been deals from the Raiders and Giants for over $50MM per year in order to remain with the Rams in 2025.
- Tre’Davious White, CB (Bills): One year, $3MM. The new deal for the veteran defender was reportedly worth up to $6.8MM. Now that we know the base value of the contract is only $3MM, we can see how much the incentives of the deal are worth, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire. White’s deal contains $2.2MM of guaranteed money, composed of his $1MM signing bonus and $1.2MM of his 2025 base salary (worth $1.56MM in total). White will have non-cumulative playing time-based incentives — $500K for 45% of defensive snaps, $750K for 55%, $1MM for 65%, $1.5MM for 75%, and $2.25MM for 90% — and non-cumulative interception-based incentives — $250K for two interceptions, $500K for three, $750K for four, and $1MM for five. Lastly, he’ll earn a per game active roster bonus of $20K for a potential season total of $340K.
- Zack Moss, RB (Bengals): One year, $1.7MM. Like Stafford, Moss is another restructured deal. Previously set to earn $3.47MM for the 2025 season, Moss took a pay cut to hopefully avoid being a cap casualty and increase his guaranteed money for the year. The guaranteed money Moss added on the deal was a $375K signing bonus. He’ll also earn a $9K per game active roster bonus for a potential season total of $155K.
Bills Sign 12 Undrafted Free Agents
The Bills have signed the following 12 undrafted free agents to bring their rookie class to 21 players:
- Hal Presley, WR (Baylor)
- Stephen Gosnell, WR (Virginia Tech)
- Kelly Akharaiyi, WR (Mississippi State)
- Keleki Latu, TE (Washington)
- Rush Reimer, G (Cal)
- Jacob Bayer, C (Arkansas State)
- Hayden Harris, DE (Montana)
- Paris Shand, DE (LSU)
- Devin Brandt-Epps, DT (New Mexico)
- Keonta Jenkins, LB (Virginia Tech)
- Daryl Porter Jr., CB (Miami)
- Wande Owens, S (New Hampshire)
Bayer is an experienced center with 46 collegiate starts under his belt – 22 at Lamar and 24 at Arkansas State. He earned first-team All-SBC honors in 2023, but suffered a torn ACL in the spring of 2024. He made an extremely quick recovery, only missing the first game of the season and finishing the year with a second-team All-SBC nod. Bayer will push for a roster spot as a depth center behind Connor McGovern and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger.
Shand is a multi-sport athlete who played for Canada’s U16 National Team in 2017. He then began his football career at Arizona before transferring to LSU in 2023. He wasn’t especially productive in college, but he has the requisite size to play defensive end in Buffalo’s 4-3 scheme.
Jenkins played a hybrid safety role at Virginia Tech but will convert to linebacker in the NFL. He fits the Bills’ mold as a speedy, undersized linebacker who excels in coverage, the likes of whom have found success in Buffalo in recent years.
Porter is the son of former NFL defensive back Daryl Porter, who played for the Bills from 1998 to 2000. His son started 35 games across his collegiate career at West Virginia and Miami.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/25
We saw a busy day of 2025 NFL Draft pick signings today. Here are the mid- to late-round picks who inked their four-year rookie deals:
Arizona Cardinals
- OLB Jordan Burch (third round, Oregon)
- CB Denzel Burke (fifth round, Ohio State)
- G Hayden Conner (sixth round, Texas)
- S Kitan Crawford (seventh round, Nevada)
Buffalo Bills
- DE Landon Jackson (third round, Arkansas)
- CB Jordan Hancock (fifth round, Ohio State)
- TE Jackson Hawes (fifth round, Georgia Tech)
- CB Dorian Strong (sixth round, Virginia Tech)
- T Chase Lundt (sixth round, Connecticut)
- WR Kaden Prather (seventh round, Maryland)
Cincinnati Bengals
- G Dylan Fairchild (third round, Georgia)
- LB Barrett Carter (fourth round, Clemson)
- T Jalen Rivers (fifth round, Miami)
- RB Tahj Brooks (sixth round, Texas Tech)
Detroit Lions
- G Miles Frazier (fifth round, LSU)
- DE Ahmed Hassanein (sixth round, Boise State)
- S Dan Jackson (seventh round, Georgia)
- WR Dominic Lovett (seventh round, Georgia)
Houston Texans
- S Jaylen Reed (sixth round, Penn State)
- QB Graham Mertz (sixth round, Florida)
- DT Kyonte Hamilton (seventh round, Rutgers)
- TE Luke Lachey (seventh round, Iowa)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- CB Caleb Ransaw (third round, Tulane)
- G Wyatt Milum (third round (West Virginia)
- LB Jalen McLeod (sixth round, Auburn)
- S Rayuan Lane III (sixth round, Navy)
- C Jonah Monheim (seventh round, USC)
- RB LeQuint Allen (seventh round, Syracuse)
Las Vegas Raiders
- WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. (fourth round, Tennessee)
Los Angeles Chargers
- DT Jamaree Caldwell (third round, Oregon)
- OLB Kyle Kennard (fourth round, South Carolina)
- WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (fifth round, Auburn)
- TE Oronde Gadsden II (fifth round, Syracuse)
- G Branson Taylor (sixth round, Pittsburgh)
- S RJ Mickens (sixth round, Clemson)
- S Trikweze Bridges (seventh round, Florida)
Minnesota Vikings
- WR Tai Felton (third round, Maryland)
- DE Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (fifth round, Georgia)
- LB Kobe King (sixth round, Penn State)
- TE Gavin Bartholomew (sixth round, Pittsburgh)
New England Patriots
- WR Kyle Williams (third round, Washington State)
- C Jared Wilson (third round, Georgia)
- DT Joshua Farmer (fourth round, Florida State)
- OLB Bradyn Swinson (fifth round, LSU)
- K Andy Borregales (sixth round, Miami)
- T Marcus Bryant (seventh round, Missouri)
- LS Julian Ashby (seventh round, Vanderbilt)
- CB Kobee Minor (seventh round, Memphis)
New York Giants
- G Marcus Mbow (fifth round, Purdue)
- TE Thomas Fidone II (seventh round, Nebraska)
New York Jets
- CB Korie Black (seventh round, Oklahoma State)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB Kaleb Johnson (third round, Iowa)
- OLB Jack Sawyer (fourth round, Ohio State)
- DT Yahya Black (fifth round, Iowa)
- QB Will Howard (sixth round, Ohio State)
- LB Carson Bruener (seventh round, Washington)
- CB Donte Kent (seventh round, Central Michigan)
San Francisco 49ers
- LB Nick Martin (third round, Oklahoma State)
- CB Upton Stout (third round, Western Kentucky)
- WR Jordan Watkins (fourth round, Ole Miss)
- RB Jordan James (fifth round, Oregon)
- S Marques Sigle (fifth round, Kansas State)
- G Connor Colby (seventh round, Iowa)
- WR Junior Bergen (seventh round, Montana)
Tennessee Titans
- S Kevin Winston Jr. (third round, Penn State)
- WR Elic Ayomanor (fourth round, Stanford)
- G Jackson Slater (fifth round, Sacramento State)
- CB Marcus Harris (sixth round, California)
- RB Kalel Mullings (sixth round, Michigan)
Washington Commanders
- WR Jaylin Lane (fourth round, Virginia Tech)
- LB Kain Medrano (sixth round, UCLA)
- RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (seventh round, Arizona)
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/25
Here are the minor NFL transactions to close out the week:
Arizona Cardinals
- Received roster exemption (international player): OL Valentin Senn
Atlanta Falcons
- Received roster exemption (international player): K Lenny Krieg
- Waived: DT Junior Aho
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): DT Casey Rogers
Carolina Panthers
- Reverted to IR: DT Popo Aumavae
- Waived: OLB Kenny Dyson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Received roster exemption (international player): S Dante Barnett
Detroit Lions
- Received roster exemption (international player): DE Ahmed Hassanein
Houston Texans
- Waived: G Nick Broeker
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Ulysses Bentley IV
- Received roster exemption (international player): S Marcel Dabo
- Waived: G Atonio Mafi, DT Pheldarius Payne
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived (with failed physical designation): WR Jeff Foreman
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: OLB Chris Collins
Minnesota Vikings
- Received roster exemption (international player): P Oscar Chapman
New York Jets
- Received roster exemption (international player): G Leander Wiegand
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Dallis Flowers
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB D’Eryk Jackson
Dyson was cut from the team after news that running back Jonathon Brooks‘ placement on the physically unable to perform list would, in fact, still count him against the 90-man roster limit. They initially were told by the league that he would not count, but the updated guidance today necessitated that they lose a man.
Jackson joins Seattle’s undrafted free agent rookie class after they announced their 17 signees almost a week ago. A successful rookie minicamp tryout led to him securing a contract.
Similarly, Bentley, for whatever reason was also announced separately from the Colts’ UDFA class, even though the class was announced only a few hours before his signing. The 24-year-old hasn’t been a lead back since his 2020 season at SMU, but in three years apiece at SMU and Ole Miss, Bentley never averaged below five yards per carry in a season.
Brandon Beane: Bills Not Expecting James Cook Holdout
As James Cook approaches the final year of his rookie contract, his future beyond 2025 remains a talking point. The Bills are confident he will be in place for at least next season, and a holdout this summer is not expected by the team at this time. 
“I know we’ve had people in the building that he’s been talking with, and I have no doubt when it’s time to play football, he’ll be ready to roll,” general manager Brandon Beane said during an interview with Adam Schein on Mad Dog Sports Radio (video link).
Since Cook went public with his asking price ($15MM annually) on a long-term extension, attention has been focused on whether or not he will join the list of Bills who have received a second contract this offseason. The likes of Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau, Terrel Bernard and Christian Benford have been extended in recent weeks, but Beane made it clear no such commitment would be made in Cook’s case until after the draft. Now, mandatory minicamp in June and training camp one month later represent potential flashpoints depending on how negotiations proceed.
A report from one month ago indicated initial talks did not go well, and it will be interesting to see if that changes in the near future. Cook was absent from voluntary workouts, but the 25-year-old would become subject to fines he if skipped minicamp and/or training camp. Players have increasingly turned to hold-ins during recent years, and Cook could elect to take that route if no deal is in place by the summer.
The Bills have a second contract for the two-time Pro Bowler on their radar, although Beane has suggested Cook will need to duplicate his production from the past two campaigns for Buffalo to proceed with a long-term commitment. Since taking over starting duties in 2023, Cook has amassed 2,131 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. The Georgia product has added 703 yards and six touchdowns in the passing game, illustrating his dual-threat ability. Cook faced questions coming out of college about his ability to operate as a full-time lead back, but he has handled over 200 carries each of the past two seasons.
Buffalo also has Ray Davis and Ty Johnson in place for backfield options beyond the coming season. They will both have a role in 2025 once the season starts, but it remains to be seen what Cook’s outlook will be by that point.
2025 NFL Draft Rumors: Texans, Browns, Williams
We entered the 2025 NFL Draft in unprecedented waters as all 32 teams were set to have their own first-round picks for the first time since the AFL-NFL merger. In fact, when the Tennessee was put on the clock, all teams still had their own first-round picks. Before that, the closest the draft had ever come to starting without any first-round trades was in 1993, when the Chiefs traded their first-rounder to the 49ers for Joe Montana just five days before the draft.
While Cleveland and Jacksonville were the first teams to ruin that pristine first round with a trade, the Texans and Rams were the only teams to trade completely out of the first round. In fact, all nine of Houston’s draft picks were the results of trades. We already discussed how the team looked to move back up into the first round for Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, but on Fan Duel TV’s Up & Adams show with Kay Adams, Texans general manager Nick Caserio detailed how they were initially attempting to move up into the top half of the first round but were unable to find a partner, so they looked instead into moving down, fielding several offers.
“We tried to move up a little bit,” Caserio told Adams. “It didn’t really work out. At about the 18, 19, 20 range, we started to get some calls about our pick, so we were putting the information up on the board.”
“We had actually three different trade scenarios that were on the board at one time,” Caserio continued. “We had trade scenarios, we were prepared to pick a player…and then we were on the clock, and a pick before — I think when Minnesota picked at 24 — and after they picked, we were able to consummate the trade with the Giants. So, we scooted back there to the second round and then had the second pick there to start Friday.”
Here are a few other draft rumors from the days following the 2025 NFL Draft:
- In a Q&A earlier this week, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated dropped an interesting tidbit about the Browns‘ potential first-round strategy last Thursday night. We’ve covered Breer’s earlier report that Cleveland attempted to get back into the first round for Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., but he has since reasoned that the team was potentially looking for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart late in the first round. Ultimately, it was the Giants that made the move back into the 25th overall spot for Dart, but there’s a chance the Browns may have done so if New York hadn’t acted when they did.
- Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams found himself getting drafted at the tail end of the first round by the Lions at No. 28 overall. Shortly after the draft, Williams told Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network that he believes the Bills would have taken him two picks later if Detroit hadn’t selected him. Buffalo had considered defensive tackle a serious position of need as DaQuan Jones heads into a contract year, and head coach Sean McDermott and defensive line coach Marcus West told Williams they loved his game and how he played. There’s a chance Williams could’ve been headed to northern New York had Lions general manager Brad Holmes been more receptive to the phone calls he’d received gauging his interest in trading back from the 28th overall pick.
2025 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team
Here is every team’s haul from the 2025 NFL Draft:
Arizona Cardinals
- Round 1, No. 16: Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 47: Will Johnson (CB, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 78: Jordan Burch (OLB, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 115: Cody Simon (LB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 5, 174 (from Cowboys)*: Denzel Burke (CB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 211 (from Cowboys)*: Hayden Conner (G, Texas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 225 (from Jets through Chiefs): Kitan Crawford (S, Nevada) (signed)
Atlanta Falcons
- Round 1, No. 15: Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 26 (from Rams): James Pearce (DE, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 96 (from Eagles): Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 118: Billy Bowman (S, Oklahoma) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218 (from Browns through Chargers): Jack Nelson (T, Wisconsin) (signed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Round 1, No. 27: Malaki Starks (S, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 59: Mike Green (OLB, Marshall) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 91: Emery Jones (T, LSU) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 129: Teddye Buchanan (LB, Cal) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 141* (from Titans): Carson Vinson (T, Alabama A&M) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 178 (from Titans): Bilhal Kone (CB, Western Michigan) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 186 (from Jets): Tyler Loop (K, Arizona) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 203: LaJohntay Wester (WR, Colorado) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 210*: Aeneas Peebles (DT, Virginia Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 212*: Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 243: Garrett Dellinger (G, LSU) (signed)
Buffalo Bills
- Round 1, No. 30: Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 41 (from Bears): T.J. Sanders (DT, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 72 (from Bears): Landon Jackson (DE, Arkansas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 109 (from Bears through Bills and Bears): Deone Walker (DT, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 170 (from Cowboys)*: Jordan Hancock (CB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 173*: Jackson Hawes (TE, Georgia Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 177 (from Giants): Dorian Strong (CB, Virginia Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 206: Chase Lundt (T, UConn) (signed)
- Round 7, 240 (from Vikings through Browns and Bears): Kaden Prather (WR, Maryland) (signed)
Carolina Panthers
- Round 1, No. 8: Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 51 (from Broncos): Nic Scourton (OLB, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 77 (from Falcons through Patriots): Princely Umanmielen (OLB, Ole Miss) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 114 (from Cowboys): Trevor Etienne (RB, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 122 (from Broncos): Lathan Ransom (S, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 140 (from Giants): Cam Jackson (DT, Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 163 (from Ravens): Mitchell Evans (TE, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 208 (from Eagles through Broncos): Jimmy Horn (WR, Colorado) (signed)
Chicago Bears
- Round 1, No. 10: Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 39 (from Panthers): Luther Burden (WR, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 56 (from Vikings through Texans and Bills): Ozzy Trapilo (T, Boston College) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 62: Shemar Turner (DT, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 132 (from Bills): Ruban Hyppolite (LB, Maryland) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 169 (from Bills)*: Zah Frazier (CB, Texas-San Antonio) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 195 (from Steelers through Rams): Luke Newman (G, Michigan State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 233 (from Bengals): Kyle Monangai (RB, Rutgers) (signed)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Round 1, No. 17: Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 49: Demetrius Knight (LB, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 81: Dylan Fairchild (G, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 119: Barrett Carter (LB, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 153: Jalen Rivers (T, Miami) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 193: Tahj Brooks (RB, Texas Tech) (signed)
Cleveland Browns
- Round 1, No. 5 (from Jaguars): Mason Graham (DT, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 33: Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 36 (from Jaguars): Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 67: Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, Bowling Green) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 94 (from Bills): Dillon Gabriel (QB, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 126 (from Vikings through Jaguars): Dylan Sampson (RB, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 144 (from Patriots through Seahawks): Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado) (signed)
Dallas Cowboys
- Round 1, No. 12: Tyler Booker (G, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 44: Donovan Ezeiruaku (DE, Boston College) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 76: Shavon Revel (CB, East Carolina) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 149: Jaydon Blue (RB, Texas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 152 (from Cardinals): Shemar James (LB, Florida) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 204 (from Lions through Browns and Bills): Ajani Cornelius (G, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 217 (from Titans through Patriots): Jay Toia (DT, UCLA) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 239 (from Packers through Titans): Phil Mafah (RB, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 247 (from Chiefs through Panthers): Tommy Akingbesote (DT, Maryland) (signed)
2026 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
NFL teams have until May 1 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2022 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th-highest salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
We covered how last year’s Pro Bowl invites affected the 2022 first-round class. With the deadline looming, we will use the space below to track all the 2026 option decisions from around the league:
- DE/OLB Travon Walker, Jaguars ($14.75MM): Exercised
- DE/OLB Aidan Hutchinson, Lions ($19.87MM): Exercised
- CB Derek Stingley Jr., Texans ($17.6MM): Extended through 2029
- CB Sauce Gardner, Jets ($20.19MM): Exercised
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants ($14.75MM): Exercised
- T Ikem Ekwonu, Panthers ($17.56MM): Exercised
- T Evan Neal, Giants ($16.69MM): Declined
- WR Drake London, Falcons ($16.82MM): Exercised
- T Charles Cross, Seahawks ($17.56MM): Exercised
- WR Garrett Wilson, Jets ($16.82MM): Exercised
- WR Chris Olave, Saints ($15.49MM): Exercised
- WR Jameson Williams, Lions ($15.49MM): Exercised
- DT Jordan Davis, Eagles ($12.94MM): Exercised
- S Kyle Hamilton, Ravens ($18.6MM): Exercised
- G Kenyon Green, Eagles* ($16.69MM): Declined
- WR Jahan Dotson, Eagles** ($16.82MM): Declined
- G Zion Johnson, Chargers ($17.56MM): Declined
- WR Treylon Burks, Titans ($15.49MM): Declined
- T Trevor Penning, Saints ($16.69MM): Declined
- QB Kenny Pickett, Browns*** ($22.12MM): Declined
- CB Trent McDuffie, Chiefs ($13.63MM): Exercised
- LB Quay Walker, Packers ($14.75MM): Declined
- CB Kaiir Elam, Cowboys**** ($12.68MM): Declined
- G Tyler Smith, Cowboys ($20.99MM): Exercised
- C Tyler Linderbaum, Ravens ($20.99MM): Declined
- DE Jermaine Johnson, Jets ($13.92MM): Exercised
- LB Devin Lloyd, Jaguars ($14.75MM): Exercised
- DT Devonte Wyatt, Packers ($12.94MM): Exercised
- G Cole Strange, Patriots ($16.69MM): Declined
- DE George Karlaftis, Chiefs ($15.12MM): Exercised
- DB Dax Hill, Bengals ($12.68MM): Exercised
- S Lewis Cine, Vikings: N/A
* = traded from Texans on March 11, 2025
** = traded from Commanders on August 22, 2024
*** = traded from Eagles on March 15, 2024; traded from Steelers on March 10, 2025
**** = traded from Bills to Cowboys on March 12, 2025
Bills Hoping To Extend RB James Cook
MAY 1: During an interview with Go Long’s Tyler Dunne (subscription requred), Beane said Cook has “got to still show he’s… the guy we saw if he wants to get that pay day. Either from us or someone else.” A repeat of the production seen in 2023 and ’24 may therefore be needed for Buffalo to make a long-term commitment. Beane added he views the top tier of running backs as a small group; it will be interesting to see if Cook joins it this offseason or if the team continues to wait on an extension.
APRIL 29: A big topic of the offseason in Buffalo has been centered around the contract desires of running back James Cook, who has been vocal about wanting a contract extension to help him get out of his rookie deal. Cook made the decision to skip the team’s voluntary workouts this month, potentially marking the start of a hold out. General manager Brandon Beane, though, has confidence that Cook’s situation will be resolved with an extension eventually. 
In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show today, Beane told McAfee that Cook “will be here this year and hopefully beyond,” according to Michael David Smith of NBC Sports.
A second-round pick from 2022, the Georgia product has improved each season of his career. A rookie season behind Devin Singletary saw him rush for only 507 yards and two touchdowns, adding 180 yards and a score through the air. In 2023, Cook took over as the starter and turned in a 1,000-yard rushing season (1,122 yards, to be exact) but only scored two rushing touchdowns, though he added 445 yards and four scores in the air.
Last year, Cook put it all together. In 16 games, he rushed for 1,009 yard and led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns. He added 258 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, as well. These efforts on an average salary of $1.46MM per year just aren’t adding up for Cook.
Cook is on record as seeking a salary of $15MM per year, which would make him the third highest-paid running back in the NFL, behind only Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. Given the amount of tread still left on his 25-year-old tires, a raise certainly makes sense, but apart from the league-leading rushing touchdowns last season, it’s hard to argue that Cook has contributed as much as Barkley or McCaffrey in his career.
Still, Beane seems to be willing to play ball on extension conversations. He seems willing to take his time, though, as well, considering Cook has another year on his contract (and a franchise tag has been a popular option for keeping running backs around), but it sounds like Beane has every intention of keeping his star rusher happy to keep him in the building.
Bills To Sign WR Elijah Moore
Elijah Moore‘s Buffalo visit will produce a deal. The Bills are bringing in the former Jets and Browns wide receiver, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports.
The veteran slot receiver can earn up to $5MM on a one-year deal. Moore, who visited the Bills on Monday, will follow former Chargers starter Josh Palmer as Bills WR additions this offseason. While the Browns applied a UFA tender to Moore before Monday’s deadline (regarding the 2026 compensatory formula), he has a deal in place more than two months before that tender would have given Cleveland exclusive negotiating rights.
As Cleveland aims for a potential comp pick for Moore’s Buffalo defection, the Bills have added an intriguing piece to Josh Allen‘s weaponry cadre. Palmer has regularly played in the slot, though he has shown ability on the perimeter as well, while the team still employs ex-Carolina and Washington inside receiver Curtis Samuel. Moore joins a suddenly crowded position group, one headlined by recently extended slot anchor Khalil Shakir and 2024 second-rounder Keon Coleman.
A post-draft Brandon Beane radio interview (via ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg) involved the Bills’ GM taking exception to hosts’ questioning of his receiver strategy. (The team waited until Round 7 to draft a wideout this year.) While no one among Buffalo’s receiving corps has proven to be on Stefon Diggs‘ level, Shakir has overachieved based on his fifth-round pedigree. Shakir has become Allen’s top target, while the Bills will be expecting Coleman to take a leap as an outside receiver this season. Though, Shakir, Palmer, Samuel and now Moore does create a bit of a logjam in the slot.
The Bills did not draft a receiver this year, helping explain this post-draft signing, and they have not re-signed Amari Cooper. While that was mentioned as a possibility months ago, the Palmer and Moore moves effectively point to Cooper being a 2024 rental. Cooper did not move the needle much in Buffalo, which will try younger options as Shakir complementary pieces.
Moore, 25, showed promise as a Jets rookie, despite playing in an offense featuring an erratic rookie-year Zach Wilson, but did not see eye-to-eye with OC Mike LaFleur by his second season. That brought a trade request. As the Jets moved toward their Aaron Rodgers-fronted roster, they traded Moore to the Browns in a pick-swap deal headlined by a second-rounder changing hands. Moore ran into more QB trouble in Cleveland, which saw its Deshaun Watson trade fail spectacularly. Last season later brought Jameis Winston‘s usual high-variance shtick and an overmatched Dorian Thompson-Robinson post-Watson. Moore finished his Browns tenure with 640- and 538-yard seasons. He totaled 538 with a career-high five TDs in 11 games as a rookie in New York.
There is reason to view Moore as having untapped potential, as he will not turn 26 until next year and has never played with an above-average quarterback (excepting perhaps Joe Flacco‘s Cleveland cameo). The Bills will hope so, and they have him at a low rate (compared to Palmer’s three-year, $30MM pact). Samuel’s three-year, $24MM deal a fully guaranteed $6.91MM 2025 salary, making it likely he is back. It will be interesting to see how this receiver situation shakes out this offseason, as Hollins played a regular role for the Bills despite Cooper’s addition.