Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, arrives at Highmark Stadium for and NFL game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y.. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

INDIANAPOLIS — James Cook isn’t sending mixed signals regarding the new deal he wants entering the last year of his rookie contract.

The Buffalo Bills running back has posted about wanting $15 million per season in a new deal on social media. He went on “The Night Cap” podcast last week and stated that he wants the money he feels he deserves.

“We work all of our life to get paid. Feed me the big bucks,” Cook said. “I’m going to stand on what I stand on and I don’t want to feel like a cancer at all. Because I don’t like all that attention and all that. That’s not me, honestly. I’m just standing on business and what I deserve.”

Bills general manager Brandon Beane spoke to reporters from the combine on Tuesday and addressed Cook’s public contract demands for the first time.

“I love James. James is a beautiful man, he really is,” Beane said. “I want James here, hopefully, like a lot of guys. The business is the business. Would I prefer we don’t take the business outside? Yes, I think that’s always the best way to handle it. But James is a grown man, and he’ll handle it the way he does. It doesn’t change my view of him.”

The running back market has long lagged behind premier positions like wide receiver, pass rusher, and cornerback. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffery makes $19 million per season and Cook is aiming to get as close to that number as he can.

Beane said the two sides aren’t currently on the same page.

“Just because we’re not on the same page today doesn’t mean we wouldn’t be tomorrow, two weeks, two months, two years,” he said.

The Bills may struggle to hit Cook’s demand because of insufficient salary cap space. Superstar quarterback Josh Allen is in line for a raise and other young players like cornerback Christian Benford and pass rusher Greg Rousseau are also looking for extensions.

Beane must prioritize where to spend the Bills’ money and Cook, despite his importance in the offense and as a weapon in Joe Brady’s offense, may not get everything he wants.

“James is a good player for us. He has the ability to be a mismatch player. He can play all three downs,” Beane said. “We would love to keep James here long term. … So we’ll keep those dialogues open with James or other players that are up for extensions. If we feel it makes sense for both sides then we’ll definitely do it.”

Beane isn’t taking Cook’s public demand personally.

“Everyone wants what they believe to be their fair market value and I respect that,” Beane said. “Again, if I could give him advice, I’d say let’s just keep that in house. But it doesn’t change my viewpoint of him. And I don’t think any differently. When I see him, whenever that is, next week, spring, whenever, I’m going to give him a hug, love him up and tell him let’s roll.”

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