Michael Owens/Getty Images
Maybe Dalvin Cook should consider becoming certified as a sports agent.
James Cook, Dalvin’s younger brother, scored on a five-yard touchdown run to put the Buffalo Bills ahead 10-7 over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Wild Card Round.
Reacting to the play, Dalvin suggested James is worth a $20 million average salary:
The younger Cook is signed with Buffalo through the 2025 season, but it stands to reason he and his representatives will angle for a long-term extension. During the regular season, the 2023 Pro Bowler ran for 1,009 yards and matched O.J. Simpson’s franchise record for rushing touchdowns (16).
If Dalvin thinks his brother can get $20 million a year, then he hasn’t been paying attention to the running back market.
San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey nearly matches that figure with a $19 million average salary, but there’s a wild gulf between he the second-highest-paid running back (Jonathan Taylor, $14 million). The Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley is next on the list at $12.6 million.
Spotrac pegs James Cook’s value at $35.8 million over four years. That’s a far cry from a $20 million AAV.
But any good negotiator will tell you to start high since there’s more room to bargain down. If Cook and his agent start at $20 million with the Bills, then they’ll have a lot of room.
