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James Cook

Latest On Bills’ Running Back Plan

July 1st, 2022 at 10:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills had not used a first- or second-round pick on a running back since taking C.J. Spiller ninth overall 12 years ago. Using a second-round choice on James Cook in April certainly points to the AFC East champions envisioning a change at the position.

Devin Singletary, however, is not expected to be demoted. The Cook pick notwithstanding, Buffalo’s coaching staff remains committed to Singletary being a key piece in 2022, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The South Florida product led the team with 870 rushing yards last season.

Cook’s arrival crowds the Bills’ backfield, though it should boost the unit’s passing-game capabilities. Cook is signed through 2025, making the Georgia product the long-term centerpiece of the Bills’ backfield. Singletary’s rookie contract runs through 2022, making this a critical year for the 5-foot-7 talent’s career. While he should be expected to start ahead of Cook and lead Bills backs in playing time, ceding some ground to the rookie in the passing game, per Buscaglia, there is a difference between that and a notable extension.

The 2023 running back free agency class could be one of the most interesting in recent NFL history. That market would stand to include Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Kareem Hunt and Damien Harris. Not all of this group would hit free agency, as teams’ efforts to keep 2017 draftees off the market showed. But some will. Singletary would not be the highest-profile back here, but he has been a solid per-carry producer (4.7 over three seasons) and has not — to this point — been given full workloads. The former third-round pick is sitting on 495 carries through three seasons.

Given ball-carrying veterans’ frequent issues on the market, it would not surprise if Singletary could be retained on a midlevel accord to pair with Cook beyond 2022. Zack Moss may have a say in that future. Phased out down the stretch last season, the 2020 third-rounder could enter 2022 facing a wide range of outcomes. A solid camp could put the power back in line to remain in Buffalo’s committee, but Buscalgia notes a trade before the season should not be ruled out. The Bills do have a quarterback who has proven quite capable in short-yardage situations. Josh Allen has 31 career rushing touchdowns, and his 763 ground yards last season dwarfed Moss’ total (345).

Buffalo also signed Duke Johnson this offseason, doing so after a failed effort to add J.D. McKissic. Moss falling further out of favor would benefit the veteran, who signed for just $378K guaranteed. Though, Moss and Johnson’s skillsets do not exactly overlap. The former Browns and Texans passing-down back still could supply depth for a backfield that promises to have more options than it has over the past two seasons.

Bills Finalize Draft Pick Signings

May 13th, 2022 at 6:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills have completed the process of signing their entire draft class. The team announced on Friday that each of their eight rookies have inked their initial deal.

That list includes first-round corner Kaiir Elam. The Bills made a small move up the board from 25th to 23rd to make sure they could select him. The former Florida Gator quickly emerged as key piece on the team’s defense, putting up solid production to go along with a pro-ready frame (six-foot-two, 195 pounds). With the secondary identified by many as the position group most in need of assistance, Elam could have a path to significant playing time with the Bills early on.

Another position which Buffalo made considerably stronger was that of running back. The team took Georgia tailback James Cook in the second round, adding competition for touches with Devin Singletary, Zack Moss and Duke Johnson. The younger brother of Vikings Pro Bowler Dalvin, Cook enjoyed a breakout season in his final campaign with the national champions. He topped 1,000 scrimmage yards for the first time, scoring 11 total touchdowns.

The rest of the Bills’ class contains depth options on both sides of the ball, as well as a special teams addition. The team drafted so-called ‘Punt God’ Matt Araiza in the sixth round. The San Diego State product averaged over 51 yards per punt during his college career, fielding kickoff and field goal duties as well.

With the entire class under contract, here is the complete list of Bills draftees:

  • Round 1: No. 23 (from Cardinals through Ravens) Kaiir Elam, CB (Florida)
  • Round 2: No. 63 (from Bengals) James Cook, RB (Georgia)
  • Round 3: No. 89 Terrel Bernard, LB (Baylor) (signed)
  • Round 5: No. 148 (from Bears) Khalil Shakir, WR (Boise State)
  • Round 6: No. 180 (from Jaguars through Buccaneers) Matt Araiza, P (San Diego State)
  • Round 6: No. 185 (from Panthers) Christian Benford, CB (Villanova)
  • Round 6: No. 209 (from Bengals) Luke Tenuta, OT (Virginia Tech)
  • Round 7: No. 231 (from Falcons) Baylon Spector, LB (Clemson)

Draft Rumors: Ojabo, Jaguars, Jets, Giants

April 6th, 2022 at 5:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Michigan still might see two of its edge rushers become first-round picks this month. Despite David Ojabo‘s Achilles tear last month, the ex-Wolverine’s talent could well keep him on track to hear his name called on the draft’s first night. Ojabo remains firmly on the Round 1 radar, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports notes. Ojabo is expected to make a full recovery, and a team that uses a first-round pick on him would be positioned to have him contracted for five seasons — via the fifth-year option. Operating opposite Aidan Hutchinson, Ojabo recorded 11 sacks in a breakout 2021. There is recent precedent for pre-draft injuries not keeping talented pass rushers out of the first round (Jeffery Simmons) and for Achilles rehabs going well enough players become factors months after the tears (Terrell Suggs, Michael Crabtree, Cam Akers).

Here is the latest from the draft world:

  • Hutchinson and NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu met with the Jaguars this week, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes both will head to New York for Giants and Jets visits (Twitter link). Both players are candidates to go first overall, with Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker joining them. The Jets and Giants hold four of the next nine picks — the Jets having Nos. 4 and 10 and the Giants at 5 and 7 — and will be set to add top talent. The Giants have a few needs, but it will be hard to see them exiting Round 1 without a right tackle prospect. They have done extensive homework on Mississippi State’s Charles Cross and would likely pounce if Ekwonu, who is rated ahead of Cross almost universally, fell to 5.
  • After a strong Combine showing, Walker is being projected as a top-five pick. He will visit with each of the teams holding those selections, with Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com noting the Jags, Lions, Texans, Jets and Giants are meeting with the pass rusher. Despite weighing 272 pounds and frequently playing inside with the national championship-winning team, Walker clocked a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Viewed as a D-lineman with fewer red flags than Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, it is unlikely Walker will wait long to hear his name called.
  • Teams will do their due diligence on Thibodeaux, who is set to meet with the non-Jaguars contingent of the top five (Lions, Texans, Jets, Giants). The Eagles (Nos. 15 and 18) and Falcons (No. 9) are also planning “30” visits with Thibodeaux, Wilson notes. Questions about Thibodeaux’s motor and attitude have injected uncertainty into the defensive end’s status. A fall to Philly at 15 might not shock at this point.
  • One season remains on Saquon Barkley‘s contract, and the Giants‘ new regime has fielded trade calls on the previous staff’s top investment. The team is now using a few of its allotted 30 visits on backs. Breece Hall (Iowa State), Brian Robinson (Alabama) and James Cook (Georgia) visited the Giants on Tuesday, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. Hall could be available when the Giants’ second-round pick (No. 36) comes. However, the ex-Cyclones standout grades as a first-round talent on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board. Cook and Robinson are viewed as later-round prospects.
  • The Commanders are also taking a look at a top back, being set to meet with Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker on Friday, Rapoport adds (on Twitter). Scouts Inc. grades Walker just ahead of Hall as this class’ top back, but views him as a second-round talent. The Wake Forest transfer blew up for 1,636 rushing yards in his only Michigan State slate. Washington also met with Hall this week, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets.
  • Andrew Booth may miss his NFL team’s offseason workouts due to hernia surgery, but that should not deter teams from considering the Clemson cornerback in Round 1. Booth has met with the Bills (No. 25) and Eagles, with Rapoport adding Patriots (No. 21) and Saints (Nos. 16 and 19) meetings are also on Booth’s docket.

Eight Georgia Bulldogs Declare For Draft

January 15th, 2022 at 8:27pm CST by Ely Allen

After wrapping of the 2021 football season with a National Championship win over the Crimson Tide, Georgia is ready to send a couple players to the NFL. So far, we’ve seen declarations from running backs Zamir White and James Cook, wide receiver George Pickens, offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, defensive linemen Travon Walker and Devonte Wyatt, linebacker Nakobe Dean, and safety Lewis Cine.

White was a 5-star recruit out of North Carolina and the consensus top-ranked running back in the 2018 graduating class. White was forced to red-shirt his true freshman season after tearing his ACL, his second such injury in about 9 months. After healing, he took snaps behind D’Andre Swift and Brian Herrien before taking over as the lead back in 2020 rushing for 1,635 yards and 22 touchdowns over the next two seasons. Dane Brugler, of The Athletic, has White ranked as the 7th-best running back in the class and he should expect to hear his name on Day 2 or 3 of the draft.

James Cook, the younger brother of Dalvin Cook, came into Georgia the same year as White but didn’t have to sit out his freshman year. Cook has sat just below White on the depth chart for the three years they were both active, racking up 1,031 rushing yards along with 10 touchdowns in the past two seasons. He is ranked the 5th-best running back on Brugler’s list and should also expect to hear his name in the middle rounds.

Pickens arrived at Georgia as a 5-star recruit after flipping from a commitment to Auburn. He led the team in receiving his freshman year with 727 yards and 8 touchdowns. He improved his yards per game average the next year but missed two games in an already shortened COVID-season. Pickens tore his ACL in March 2021 but returned to contribute to the Bulldogs’ National Championship run catching 2 passes for 61 yards in two playoff games. Brugler has Pickens as the 9th-best receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft. It’s expected that some team will take a flyer on the big-bodied receiver on Day 2 or early into Day 3.

Salyer was a 5-star recruit and the consensus top-ranked guard in the 2018 graduating class. Salyer saw his first start late in his sophomore year before securing his spot as the blindside starting tackle for the next two seasons. He missed a couple games with an injury this year, but he surrendered no sacks in eleven starts this year. Brugler has Salyer as the 7th-best interior offensive lineman and we should expect to hear his name on Day 2 or early into Day 3.

Walker came in as a 5-star recruit from west Georgia and dominated as soon as he arrived. Walker became an instant presence on the line with an elite get-off. After starting at defensive tackle for every game this season, Walker led the defensive line in sacks as an interior lineman with 6.0. Despite his size and placement in the Georgia defense, Brugler has Walker as the 4th-best edge rusher in the draft. Whether or not that’s where NFL teams see the junior Bulldog playing, he’s expected to hear his name called late in the first-round or early in the second.

Wyatt initially attended Hutchinson Community College to help meet the academic requirements needed to play Division I football. After transferring to Georgia, Wyatt rotated on the defensive line for two years before becoming a starter in 2020. Wyatt decided to use the extra year of eligibility, granted due to COVID-19, to come back for the 2021 season and it certainly paid off. Brugler has Wyatt as the 4th-best interior defensive lineman and he’s expected to be selected in the middle rounds of the draft.

Dean was a 5-star recruit and the consensus second-ranked inside linebacker in the 2019 graduating class. The much-ballyhooed linebacker made an immediate impact in his freshman year before nabbing the starting job for his entire sophomore and junior seasons. He culminated his final season not only with a National Championship trophy but also with the 2021 Butkus Award trophy given to the top linebacker in college football. He finished the season second on the team in tackles (behind fellow draft hopeful, Cine) and with the team lead in tackles for loss. Dean is the 2nd-best linebacker on Brugler’s list and is widely expected to go in the first round.

Cine was a Top-100 recruit in the 2019 graduating class. Cine played every game his freshman season before taking over as the starting safety for the next two seasons. Cine led the team in tackles for the season and made a few big plays to help the team clinch their National Championship. Brugler has Cine as the 3rd-best safety in the draft and he’s expected to hear his name called on Day 1 or early in Day 2 of the draft.

These eight aren’t the last Bulldogs expected to declare for the draft, either. Although no announcements have been made, defensive tackle, and winner of the 2021 Outland Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award, Jordan Davis, linebackers Channing Tindall and Quay Walker, and cornerback Derion Kendrick all are expected to be weighing their options and could set their sights on the NFL.