Brandon Beane knew what he was doing back in April when he backed the Brinks truck into Josh Allen’s driveway. Six years, $330 million, $250 million guaranteed—the biggest bag in NFL history. Allen earned it. He was fresh off an MVP season with 40 total touchdowns and the kind of command that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. But here’s the thing: you can’t hand out that kind of deal without someone else picking up the tab.

Fast forward to a week later, and Beane’s singing a familiar tune. No WR1. A questionable receiver room. And James Cook? Nowhere to be seen in voluntary workouts. The reason is money. Or the lack of it. Beane went on The Pat McAfee Show and got real about why they passed on a top receiver in the draft. “When you’re paying Josh Allen what you’re paying him, you have to make sacrifices in other areas.” Translation: that WR1 or Cook’s $15 million dream? Not happening. At least, not right now.

But that’s a changed narrative if you’d ever read one. And that too in just a couple of months? Because this is what Beane said about James’ contract situation in February: “I want James here.. just because we aren’t on the same page today doesn’t mean we won’t be tomorrow… at the end of the day your team has to fit whatever player within your confines and pay attention to the market.” Hmm, interesting.

Meanwhile, Cook isn’t entirely ghosting the team. He’s training in South Florida. Beane knows that. “James is working,” he told Tyler Dunne. “He’s competitive… and he knows he’s got to still show he’s James Cook — the guy we saw — if he wants to get that payday.” The guy we saw? That’s 2,834 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns across two seasons. But Beane’s not putting him in the McCaffrey or Barkley tier just yet. “There’s very few” running backs worth that level of investment, he said.

So where does that leave Cook? He’s on a prove-it tour in 2025, with a franchise tag looming if he delivers. Beane isn’t closing the door completely, but it’s clear this isn’t about emotion. It’s math. “Either from us or someone else,” he said, subtly reminding Cook that Buffalo’s offer might not be the biggest… Or the first.

And for a GM who’s all-in on building lines, not skill positions, it’s a tightrope walk. One former Hall of Fame GM once said he regretted not giving his star QB more weapons. You wonder if Beane might one day say the same about Allen. Because if James Cook walks and the WR room doesn’t pan out, Buffalo’s margin of error shrinks fast.

Josh Allen needs James to Cook in 2025

You can average 30 points a game and still have problems. That’s what 2024 taught the Bills. Sure, the scoreboard looked sweet, but anyone watching knew that Buffalo’s receivers weren’t exactly striking fear into DBs. Josh Allen was out there running for his life and still dragging this offense over the finish line. And a massive part of that? The combo of Allen and James Cook on the ground.

If the Bills had a heartbeat last season, it came from their quarterback’s legs and their running back’s burst. Now? That heartbeat’s skipping. James hasn’t shown up at the facility yet. Voluntary workouts or not, the silence is loud. The 24-year-old is looking for a serious payday, around $15 million per year. That’s top-shelf money for a running back, sure. But, seeing Saquon Barkley‘s 2-year $41.2 million payday, or even Christian McCaffrey‘s current $19 million per year contract, you have to think if James’ ask is outrageous or not.

The Bills’ front office thinks so, and that’s why they haven’t rushed to the table. That’s why the trade rumors are there. Teams are circling. But let’s bring it inside the locker room, where this actually matters. Josh Allen kept it cool when asked about Cook’s absence. “We understand the business side of it,” he said, toeing that line between QB1 and locker room diplomat. He added, “I just try to make sure I’m focusing on what I can control… James is working out and getting the work done.” He’s not fanning the flames. But you can hear it in his tone—he wants his guy back.

Because here’s the deal: Allen can’t do it all again in 2025. He can’t keep playing hero while waiting for a WR to get two yards of separation. So, if the Bills want to score like 2024 and go even further? They need James to Cook.