Second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision of who will lead the team at quarterback in 2025 is who will be toting the rock in 2025.
One Steelers fan would like it to be James Cook, the Buffalo Bills running back who’s heading into the final year of his rookie deal and seeking a new contract. “Come to the Steelers we will pay you,” the fan wrote on X. The fan’s comment was in response to Cook retweeting the breaking news of Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley receiving a historic new deal on March 4.
Cook reacted with the eyeball emoji as he and his agent are closely monitoring the running back market after demanding a $15 million contract from the Bills. Per Spotrac, Cook’s market value is an estimated $10.2 million (four years $40.8 million).Reports have surfaced speculating that Pittsburgh is looking to return free agent Najee Harris along with Jaylen Warren.
Per Spotrac, Harris’ market value is an estimated $9.2 million (three years, $27.5 million). Harris, 26, earned $2.43 in 2024, the final year of his rookie deal. Warren, a restricted free agent, has a market value of $7.1 million. As an undrafted free agent, Warren earned just $985,000 in the last year of his first NFL contract.
The Steelers’ $59.6 million cap space ranks them eighth in the NFL. While they could make Cook happen if they were so inclined, there are more important things to juggle, like the aforementioned quarterback and T.J. Watt. George Pickens is also heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
A move for Cook would also be more complicated, as he still has one year remaining on his contract. In 2024, the two-time Pro Bowler tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns and posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. He led the team with 239 touches despite playing less than half of the offense’s total snaps (48%). His 4.9 yards per rushing attempt was the eighth-most in the league
