Bills candidates for contract extensions during the 2025 offseason

Shakir has been both a top target as well as a go-to receiver for Buffalo QB and NFL MVP Josh Allen over the past two seasons, giving him a reliable option in the slot and beyond to help fill some of the voids left by past receivers like Cole Beasley and Stefon Diggs.

Beasley’s free agent deal with the Bills when he was signed away from the Dallas Cowboys in free agency could provide some framework for a Shakir extension.

And Joe Brady’s spread-out offensive distribution could help to keep deals for players like Shakir, 2024 trade acquisition Amari Cooper, and running back James Cook honest.

Nonetheless, Shakir’s deal would be one of the top priority pacts to get done.

Another priority candidate for an extension is Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau. The edge rusher has been one of the team’s best players on defense for the past several years.

His development and progression, however, have not yet reached his breakout level of potential though he has shown flashes of it, which lays the groundwork for an extension between him and the club that works for both sides.

Rousseau’s extension is another one that is likely to get done, especially since Buffalo might add some more punch to their pass rush this offseason which could open things up more for players like him and fellow DE A.J. Epenesa.

A top talent in the defensive secondary, Benford rose this season to be not just one of the top talents on the team but also in the NFL at his position.

An extension to lock him in at age 24 on a multi-year deal would secure his services during his prime years as a part of the Bills secondary.

The team needs some more depth behind him to either reliably back up or replace free-agent corner Rasul Douglas as Kaiir Elam has yet to progress, making him either a long-term development project or a trade chip.

That need and the salary cap situation could result in a short-term reunion pact with a familiar face or two in free agency with former Bills corners Tre White and a favorite of head coach Sean McDermott, Dane Jackson, both available.

No matter what, securing Benford on an extension will give them an anchor at the starter position.

Spotrac estimates Cook’s market value to be $9 million per season on a four-year extension.

That would be a reasonable deal considering his three-year progression in the league and back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons. A raise that reflects the steps forward he took at the pro level during the 2023 and 2024 seasons would be fair.

There is, however, a complexity that has emerged in that Cook is uncharacteristically and publically demanding $15M per year on a new deal. It’s counter to the Bills team culture and in-house style of dealing with things, in which they take care of their players contractually since Brandon Beane became GM.

Cook only played 55% of the offensive snaps in 2023 and 48% in 2024 since he became the starter two years ago. On top of that, the 2024 season was the first one in which the running back reached the heights he did.

In 2024, he ranked 38th among all running backs which was pretty far behind players like Philadelphia Eagle and newly minted Super Bowl champion Saquon Barkley (sixth at 74%, playing on a $12.6 million per year three-year deal), and longtime New Orleans Saints veteran Alvin Kamara (eighth at 71%, playing on a $15 million per year deal over five years.)

Then again, the players who thrive the most in Joe Brady’s “everyone eats” offense aren’t those who necessarily get the ball the most, but those who make the most of the opportunity when their number’s called.

To that end, Cook’s 1,267 yards from scrimmage and AFC-leading 18 touchdowns exude the efficiency needed to succeed in Brady’s playcalling.

Spotrac contract expert Michael Ginnitti pointed out that “the Bills have around 8 players eligible & worthy of a contract extension this winter, but Cook might become the most sensible priority…paying above-average running backs as early as possible seems to be the best path forward based on age/shelf life.”

The answer? Meet in the middle. This is a deal both parties should get done.

Cook’s contract demand is at a price tag held by veterans like Christian McCaffrey and Kamara who pieced together multiple seasons like the one Cook just had before they were awarded their current deals.

While his older brother Dalvin appears to be gassing him up on the idea, both the demand and forcing the issue outside of the appropriate business process and timeline to get a deal done as well as his fixation on Average Annual Value (AVV) are one dimensional and antiquated ways of thinking in the modern NFL market.

Beane is one of the most innovative GMs in the NFL when it comes to payroll economics and structures, awarding Cook with a raise in the 10-12M+ range and rolling that money out over four years to payout in different forms, like signing bonuses, performance incentives, etc. is a much more practical way for both sides to get what they want in an extension.

Making a flat $15M AVV a non-negotiable would be the opposite of the selfless culture the Bills’ offensive players have built, and again, would be out-of-character for the younger Cook.

If he truly wants to be paid what he’s worth, earning additional money through incentives to reach that AVV, accepting it through a signing bonus, or in a fourth year on a deal should be no problem.

Speaking of fortifying the trenches on the offensive side of the ball, guard David Edwards has found a good fit in the line rotation for Buffalo.

The $2.1 million in space an extension with him could create would certainly free up some of the money to pay a player like Cook or add in other areas of need, like rookie contracts or short-term roster needs.

While the team has only signed him to short-term deals, extending him to lock his services in for another season or two at a friendly rate would be a logical move.

Jones was serviceable at 34 years old though he did not have the season in 2024 many had hoped he would.

With the 2025 NFL Draft being deepest at the defensive line position, it is more likely than not that Buffalo could select his long-term replacement with one of their early-round picks, and may trade up to do so.

The Philadelphia Eagles just won a Super Bowl while blowing out the Bills’ AFC rival and defending champion Kansas City Chiefs thanks in big part to a dominant defensive front. The Bills may only be a couple of premium players away from having one themselves.

In the meantime, Jones is an extension candidate as adding another season to his deal would provide them with the ability to stretch his pay over more time and help free up spending.

By that same logic, however, he might also find himself a trade candidate along with Elam as Buffalo can afford to flip him for draft capital to use to move up while re-signing Jones’s backup and frequent Bill Jordan Phillips to bridge to a younger talent they take in the draft.

In order to pay players like Shakir, Rousseau, Benford, and Cook, Jones may find himself on the trade block or in line for an extension that could free up $5.1 million in space.

The annual restructuring of Josh Allen’s contract has become a regular part of the collaborative process between him and the club’s brass.

Allen’s deal was made this way by design, allowing him to work with Beane to lower his cap hit each year while freeing up needed space to sign and add talent to improve and keep the roster competitive.

Coming off his first MVP award-winning campaign, Allen’s offseason could see an extension that could free up around 11.7M in cap savings.

Working out a new deal that allows the team to maximize his prime while freeing up spending to move the team closer to Super Bowl contention would make sense for both parties.

After coming within one win of competing for a championship for the second time in his career, Allen and company would love to get over that hump and a new deal could help to that end.