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Fox Sports
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
10 Stars With Hall-of-Fame Talent Whose Careers Were Stunted by Injuries
Most of the best players to compete in a particular sport end up in their respective league's Hall of Fame — but not all of them. Some haven't been given a bust due to lack of playoff success, while others haven't been given a bust due to injuries limiting their games played. Every sport has a grouping of great players who fall into the latter category: Here are 10 players whose career and talent had them in a HOF discussion, but injuries derailed that dream. Note: Players are mentioned in alphabetical order, by sport. NFL QB Andrew Luck Where were you on August 25, 2019, when Luck called it a career at just 29 years old? The first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Luck helped the Indianapolis Colts transition away from Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who Indy cut after a 2011 season that Manning missed due to a neck injury. On the field, it was difficult for the Colts to ask for anything more than what they got from Luck. A four-time Pro Bowler, Luck could make every throw, threw with conviction, totaled an NFL-high 40 passing touchdowns in 2014 and led the Colts to the playoffs four times. Among the playoff highlights were Luck leading the Colts to the 2014 AFC Championship Game and helping them mount a 28-point second-half comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2013 AFC wild card round. Shoulder injuries limited Luck to seven games in 2015 and kept him off the field for all of 2017. Luck was named the 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He then dealt with an offseason calf injury and ultimately stunned the NFL world by announcing that he was retiring just two weeks before the 2019 season, making the unplayed part of his career one of the biggest what-ifs in league history. RB Clinton Portis On a cool fall Sunday in the early 2000s, the Portis was nothing to joke about. In his 2002 rookie season with the Denver Broncos, Portis rushed for 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns on 5.5 yards per carry, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors. Then, after just his second season, Denver sent Portis to Washington for future Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey and a 2004 second-round draft pick (RB Tatum Bell). Portis picked up where he left off in Denver, rushing for 1,200-plus yards in four of his first five seasons in Washington. The 5-foot-11 Portis was a quick and powerful force. He was among the best running backs of his generation and a respectable pass-catching back. However, injuries stymied Portis, as he was limited to eight games in 2006 due to a shoulder injury and played in a combined 13 games from 2009-10 due to head and groin injuries. Portis, who rushed for 1,200-plus yards in six seasons and double-digit touchdowns in four seasons, was seemingly on the path to Canton, but three injury-riddled seasons in a nine-year career keep him out of the Hall of Fame. QB Tony Romo There are arguably two ways to contextualize Romo's NFL career: he was a ring-less Eli Manning, or he was an injury-prone Philip Rivers. Signed as an undrafted free agent, Romo joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2006 and, barring injury, was their starting quarterback for the next decade. Romo was precise, efficient and had Dallas in position to make the playoffs more often than not. Dallas was a combined 78-49 with Romo as its starter and made the playoffs four times. Of course, the Cowboys went 2-4 in those postseason games. Injuries became a persistent issue for Romo in 2010, with him playing in just six games due to a broken collarbone and then just four games in 2015 due to a collarbone fracture. He then suffered an injury to his vertebrae in the 2016 preseason and lost his starting job to Dak Prescott. Romo last appeared in an NFL game in Week 17 of the 2016 regular season. A four-time Pro Bowler, Romo is first in Cowboys history in passing yards (34,183) and passing touchdowns (248) in 156 games and posted a career 97.1 passer rating. This is a franchise that has won five Super Bowls. With better health and perhaps more wins in January, Romo, who was a finalist for the 2014 NFL MVP, would be bandied about for the Hall of Fame. DE Osi Umenyiora Umenyiora was one of the most lethal pass-rushers of his generation. Two seasons after recording 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2005 — and one year after missing five games due to a torn hip flexor — Umenyiora logged 13.0 sacks and five forced fumbles in a 2007 season that saw the New York Giants win Super Bowl XLII. Coming off that championship campaign, Umenyiora missed the 2008 season due to a torn meniscus. Following a respectable 2009, he posted 11.5 sacks and an NFL-high 10 forced fumbles in 2010, a season that was followed by the Giants winning Super Bowl XLVI. Granted, Umenyiora was limited to nine regular-season games due to injury. He played with the Giants through 2012 and spent the final two years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons (2013-14). Already a star, Umenyiora was on the cusp of being arguably the game's best pass-rusher before the aforementioned knee injury got in the way. At that moment, he was playing in the shadow of Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. Then, when Umenyiora returned, he was still in the same position group as two-time Pro Bowler Justin Tuck and later Jason Pierre-Paul, who posted 16.5 sacks in 2011; his star power became a secondary talking point. Umenyiora's NFL career had its highs and lows, but he's one of the best pass rushers in the history of a franchise known for getting to the quarterback. If not for 2008, would Umenyiora have a bust next to Strahan in Canton? MLB 1B Ryan Howard In the late 2000s, there was no National League player more intimidating in the batter's box than Howard. Holding down first base, Howard had overwhelming power from the left side of the plate for the Philadelphia Phillies. He led MLB with 58 home runs in both 2006, a season which saw him win NL MVP, and 2008, and he led the NL in RBIs three times (2006, 2008 and 2009). Howard, a three-time All-Star, was an integral part of Philadelphia's 2008 World Series championship team. Then, the 2011 playoffs happened. In Game 5 of Philadelphia's wild-card round matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals, Howard tore his Achilles tendon on what was the final play of the season for the Phillies. He returned in July of the ensuing year, but played in just 80 games in 2013. While Howard, who's second in Phillies history with 382 home runs over 13 seasons, remained Philadelphia's first baseman through 2016 and was a fine enough hitter, the elite version of the former star never returned. OF Andruw Jones If you were to make a starting lineup of the best players not in Cooperstown, Jones should be starting in center field. Jones, a five-time All-Star, earned 10 consecutive Gold Gloves playing center from 1998-2007 with the Atlanta Braves. He was an electric hitter from the right side, hitting for both power and contact, swiping bags early in his career and consistently serving as a star player for Atlanta. In 2005, Jones led the league with 51 home runs and the NL with 128 RBIs. Jones, who's first in Braves history with a 26.6 defensive WAR, was one of the elite outfielders in baseball for a decade. Then, he left the Braves for the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2007 season and was limited to 75 games in 2008 due to a persistent knee injury. Changing teams three more times in the following years, Jones kept suffering injury mishaps, became a rotation outfielder and never recovered his Atlanta form. Jones was a Hall of Fame talent, and if he had even two more seasons of elite play, he would likely be in the Hall of Fame in recognition of that. LHP Cliff Lee "Marty, I'm scared" is what teams would murmur among themselves when it was announced that Lee would be the starting pitcher of the opposing team — and with good reason. After a rocky first four years as an MLB starter – including a 6.29 ERA in 2007 – Lee became as unhittable as any pitcher in the sport. In 2008, Lee won the American League Cy Young Award in Cleveland, posting a 2.54 ERA and winning 22 games. Lee was traded in back-to-back seasons, going from Cleveland to Philadelphia in 2009 and from the Seattle Mariners to the Texas Rangers in 2010 before signing back with the Phillies for the 2011 season. Through that entire stretch, Lee made hitters look silly with his off-speed arsenal, inducing weak contact and pitching deep into games. Across 11 career postseason starts, Lee posted a 2.52 ERA, an 0.93 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 82 innings pitched, which included three complete games. After two more high-quality seasons with the Phillies, the four-time All-Star suffered an elbow injury in 2014 that ultimately ended his career. Another case of apparent Hall of Fame talent, but the innings pitched just weren't there. RHP Stephen Strasburg Selected by Washington with the first overall pick in 2009, Strasburg overcame injuries and lived up to the hype. Strasburg set an MLB record with 14 strikeouts across seven innings in his first MLB start and continued to dazzle before needing Tommy John surgery later in his 2010 debut season. The right-hander returned to the hill in September 2011 and went on to be one of the best starting pitchers of the decade. Posting strikeouts at a high rate, pitching deep into games and finding success with his four-seamer and curveball, Strasburg posted a combined 3.21 ERA and 1.09 WHIP from 2012-19. In the final year of that span, Strasburg helped Washington win the 2019 World Series, earning World Series MVP honors. Over his career, Strasburg was sensational in the postseason, recording a 1.46 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 55.1 innings pitched over nine career postseason appearances/eight starts. Unfortunately for him, his body broke down after signing a seven-year, $245 million contract with Washington following the 2019 World Series. Strasburg suffered hand and shoulder injuries in the following years, making just eight starts from 2020-22 before officially retiring in 2024. Furthermore, the three-time All-Star made 30 starts in just three seasons, making for one of the most bizarre careers for an elite player in MLB history. NBA G Brandon Roy After a solid four-year college career at Washington, Roy was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth-overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, and he hit the ground running, earning 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year honors. Roy became a balanced, high-level scorer, averaging a combined 22.1 points per game from the 2008-09 season to the 2009-10 season. Moreover, Roy was an All-Star in each of the three seasons following his rookie campaign. He was one of the best guards in the NBA and a burgeoning star, if not one already. In the 2009 postseason, Roy averaged 26.7 points per game, while shooting 45.9/47.1/87.0. Then, Roy suffered a torn meniscus late in the 2009-10 season but returned and played with the injury in the playoffs. The following season (2010-11), Roy was limited to 47 games due to more knee issues. It became so critical that Roy retired after the season. He attempted an NBA return in the 2012-13 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Roy only played in five games due to his knee. F/C Amar'e Stoudemire Stoudemire was Blake Griffin before Blake Griffin was Blake Griffin. Selected straight out of high school by the Phoenix Suns with the ninth-overall pick in 2002, Stoudemire won NBA Rookie of the Year honors and quickly became a force to be reckoned with. The 6-foot-10 Stoudemire flew up and down the floor, finished at the rim over any and everybody and developed a reliable mid-range jumper. In just his third season, Stoudemire averaged 26.0 points per game. He got sidetracked the following season with a knee injury that kept the big man off the floor for all but three games. Stoudemire returned to form, though, in the 2006-07 season, reverting to the formidable scorer he was pre-injury. Outside a 2009 eye injury that cut his season short after 53 games, Stoudemire stayed healthy through the end of his time with the Suns (2009-10) and helped the New York Knicks make the playoffs in the 2010-11 season. However, Stoudemire suffered a back injury in the 2010-11 postseason and missed time with another the ensuing season. What's more, he appeared in just 29 games in the 2012-13 season due to a knee injury and was moved to the bench. He was able to play the bulk of the next three seasons, but mostly as a reserve. Stoudemire was a five-time All-NBA honoree and one of the best big men of his generation. If only he had a few more All-Star seasons. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Which 10 Players Have The Best Odds to Win 2025 Offensive Player of the Year?
Last season, Saquon Barkley dazzled the NFL world in his debut season with the Eagles, helping Philadelphia win Super Bowl LIX and earning 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors along the way. However, 2025 is a new year, and anything is possible. That said, who's the favorite to win 2025 OPOY? Here are the 10 players with the best odds to do just that, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Top 10 Players With Best Odds to Win NFL Offensive Player of the Year 10. San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (+2200) McCaffrey's 2024 campaign was a disaster, with the superstar running back playing just four games due to calf, Achilles and knee issues. At the same time, the two-time All-Pro is just one season removed from rushing for an NFL-high 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns on 5.4 yards per carry, while tallying 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns, all of which helped him become a finalist for the 2023 NFL MVP Award and win 2023 Offensive Player of the Year honors. The slippery back has electric speed, is elusive and also an essential element of San Francisco's passing game. A healthy McCaffrey has been arguably the best running back in the NFL in recent memory. T-8. Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (+2000) Lamb continues to make No. 88 shine bright. A four-time Pro Bowler and 2023 All-Pro, Lamb has totaled 1,100-plus receiving yards in each of the past four seasons and 100-plus receptions in each of the past three. Last season, Lamb logged 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games in a year that saw quarterback Dak Prescott miss nine games due to a hamstring injury. Lamb has led Dallas in receiving yards in four consecutive seasons and is entering the first season of a four-year, $136 million deal. T-8. Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua (+2000) Nacua missed six regular-season games in 2024 (five due to a knee injury and one due to rest) but was still sharp in the 11 games that he did appear in, totaling 79 receptions for 990 yards and three touchdowns. He then logged 11 receptions for 141 yards in the Rams' two playoff games. Nacua was first among wide receivers with a 92.8 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Just one year ago, Nacua was a Pro Bowler, totaling 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns during his rookie season. T-6. Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (+1700) Jefferson is arguably the best receiver the game has to offer. He's a menace in space, gets behind secondaries like nobody's business and produces consistently. A two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, Jefferson totaled 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Jefferson, the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of his five seasons in the sport and ranked eighth among wide receivers with an 87.2 overall grade last season, per PFF. His production could be difficult to forecast for next season, though, as the Vikings are rolling with QB J.J. McCarthy, who they traded up to select at No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. T-6. Houston Texans WR Nico Collins (+1700) Collins has become one of the most reliable receivers in the sport. Last season, Collins totaled 68 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns, helping him earn his first career Pro Bowl nod. He then logged 12 receptions for 203 yards and one touchdown in Houston's two postseason games. Collins was second among wide receivers with a 91.6 overall grade, per PFF. He did all that despite missing five games due to a hamstring injury. The receiver has posted 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. T-4. Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson (+1600) After a plausible and efficient 2023 rookie campaign, Robinson shouldered a larger role in Atlanta's backfield in 2024 and answered the call. Rushing for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns on 4.8 yards per carry and reeling in 61 receptions for 431 yards and one score, Robinson, who got the call on the run 90 more times than he did the year before (304 carries in 2024, compared to 214 carries in 2023), earned a Pro Bowl nod. Robinson, who's the focal point of the Falcons' offense, ranked second among running backs with a 92.8 overall grade last season, per PFF. T-4. Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry (+1600) The Ravens brought in Henry to strengthen an already potent running game, and the 252-pound back did just that and then some. In what was his ninth NFL season, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards and an NFL-high 16 touchdowns on a career-high 5.9 yards per carry. Henry, a one-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler and the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, ranked first among running backs with a 94.0 overall grade, per PFF. The star running back projects to remain the No. 1 source of offense for Baltimore next to quarterback and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. T-2. Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs (+950) Gibbs is one of the most balanced running backs in recent memory. He has blazing speed, makes quick cuts and is a tremendous pass-catching back. Last season, Gibbs rushed for 1,412 yards and an NFL-high 16 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per carry, while totaling 52 receptions for 517 yards and four touchdowns. Gibbs, who ranked sixth among running backs with an 88.5 overall grade, per PFF, has been an integral part of Detroit's offense and a Pro Bowler in each of his first two NFL seasons. T-2. Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (+950) Like his former LSU teammate Jefferson, Chase has a reputable case for being the NFL's top receiver. Last season, Chase logged 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, all three totals leading the sport. A one-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler in each of his four NFL seasons, Chase has tallied 1,000-plus yards in each of his four seasons and has consistently been star quarterback Joe Burrow's No. 1 target in the Bengals' passing game. Chase signed a four-year, $161 million extension with the Bengals earlier this offseason. 1. Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (+550) Full-blown hurdling a defender, setting NFL rushing records and becoming part of the Eagles' DNA, Barkley had a special debut season in Philadelphia. Rushing for an NFL-high 2,005 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns on a career-high 5.8 yards per carry, Barkley earned All-Pro honors and was an MVP finalist. Already becoming just the ninth player all-time to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, Barkley later set the NFL record for combined rushing yards in a single season (regular season plus postseason), finishing with 2,504 yards on the ground. To top it off, Barkley and the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX. Check out all of our Daily Rankers . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
7 most explosive Eagles heading into the 2025 season include two dynamic rookies
With the rookies and veterans set to report to the NovaCare Complex next Tuesday, we're looking at the seven most explosive players on the Eagles roster. The Eagles are nine days away from reporting to the NovaCare Complex for training camp. Nick Sirianni's team is focused on having a singular goal for the 2025 NFL regular season. Howie Roseman orchestrated another roster makeover in free agency, the 10-player NFL Draft, and several talented undrafted free agents. Training Camp begins in late July, with July 22 as the report day, followed by a practice on July 23. Although a surprise move or two could still be on the way, the majority of the work has been completed. After watching 12 players depart in free agency, Roseman added two dynamic SEC linebackers, an All-American pass rusher, three offensive linemen, and an accomplished quarterback from Philadelphia. With the rookies and veterans set to report to the NovaCare Complex on Monday, July 21, we're looking at the seven most explosive players on the Eagles roster. QB Jalen Hurts Hurts broke his Super Bowl QB record with 72 rushing yards, becoming the first QB to have multiple Super Bowls with a 100+ passer rating and 50+ rushing yards. He is the second QB to post a 115+ rating and rush for 50+ yards in a Super Bowl, along with Joe Montana in Super Bowl XIX (1/20/85). RB Saquon Barkley Barkley's 2,005 rushing yards were the eighth most in a regular season in NFL history, and he compiled an NFL-high 46 runs of 10-plus yards in 2024. WR A.J. Brown In 2024, Brown ranked 1st in receiving average (16.1) (min. 60 catches) and 3rd in receiving yards per game (83.0) (min. 13 games), behind Ja'Marr Chase (100.5) and Justin Jefferson (90.2). DT Jalen Carter During the 2024 regular season, Carter was 4th among interior defensive linemen with an 81.5 PFF pass-rush grade, behind Chris Jones (91.0), Cameron Heyward (87.2), and Jeffery Simmons (81.6) in that category. LB Jihaad Campbell (Rookie) Campbell was named to a list of players who could make an immediate impact for Philadelphia at linebacker. The 6'3", 235-pounder has sideline-to-sideline speed and impressive coverage skills. He also flourished as a quality pass rusher, registering five sacks in 2024. During his final season in Tuscaloosa, Campbell was putting together a stellar 2024 campaign before suffering a torn left labrum, totaling career-highs in tackles (117) and sacks (5.0) in 13 games. He was named first-team All-SEC and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker. DB Andrew Mukuba (Rookie) Over his final 26 games in college, Mukuba recorded 18 pass breakups and committed zero penalties. That's impressive for a player who's aggressive at the catch point. Mukuba allowed just 74 yards and a 12.1 passer rating on 401 coverage snaps last season, per PFF. At 6-0, 186 pounds, Mukuba is undersized but makes up for it with excellent ball skills and instincts. He possesses good length and exhibits ball-hawking tendencies, tying the SEC lead with five interceptions in 2024. If he were a few inches taller and 15 pounds heavier, Mukuba would've been a first-round pick. DB Cooper DeJean DeJean, who did not allow a TD in coverage in 2024, became the youngest player (22) to record an INT-TD in a Super Bowl when he had a 38-yard INT-TD against Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX.
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Cowboys Called Out Over Dak Prescott Contract Decisions
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When it comes to quarterbacks being on the hot seat, it's hard to imagine the Dallas Cowboys are looking at Dak Prescott as a potential benching candidate in 2025. The former fourth-round pick will return under center as the guaranteed starter, coming off a long injury recovery. Although Prescott couldn't get a full season in last year, he left the field with a 3-5 record, throwing for under 2,000 yards and posting his worst passer rating. There's a bad taste left, and it's caused some questions about his ability to be the guy to get the Cowboys to the NFL's biggest stage. Read More: Dak Prescott Raves About Dallas Cowboys' Offseason Addition While listing out the NFL's hot seat rankings for the quarterback position, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio mentioned Prescott. Although he made it clear that Prescott probably isn't actually on the hot seat in Dallas, the reason behind that doesn't have anything to do with his play, however. Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the first half against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium on October 13, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the first half against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium on October 13, 2024 in Arlington, Texas."He's probably not on the hot seat, because his $60 million per year contract would wreak havoc on the salary cap if the Cowboys were to cut or trade him," Florio wrote. "The complication for the Cowboys is that his $45 million salary for 2027 becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2026 league year. They're basically stuck — all because they waited too long to give him his second contract, and then waited too long to give him his third contract." Reality is striking for Dallas. Prescott will be 35 in 2028, when he's set to make a base salary of $55 million. That's a large investment in the quarterback, and it's really in their best interest to see it through at this point. Here's the good news for the Cowboys: Prescott's last full season was among his best. Read More: Dak Prescott Gives Critical Injury Update Before Cowboys' Camp The eight-game run in 2024 surely wasn't promising, but the 17-game stretch in 2023 involved some league-leading stats for the QB. Prescott completed an NFL-high 410 passes and tossed for 36 touchdowns, which also led the NFL. He threw just nine interceptions after throwing 15 the year prior. In 2023, the Cowboys achieved a 12-5 record. Prescott completed a career-high 70 percent of his passes for 4,516 yards. He also rushed 55 times for 242 yards and two touchdowns. With the Cowboys adding another notable weapon in George Pickens, Prescott has plenty to work with in the passing game in 2025. His value might be at its lowest after a rough season, but the Cowboys are unlikely to view Prescott as on the hot seat at this time. For more New York Giants and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Running back James Cook, Bills motivated to get extension done
Running backs Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley signed contract extensions this offseason. Could James Cook be the next running back to ink a new deal? There's growing optimism Cook and the Bills can reach a contract agreement by training camp, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Both sides are motivated to get a deal done and have been in talks since the team's mandatory minicamp. Bills veterans report to training camp on July 22. "Everything is a business, so no hard feelings," Cook said last month at Buffalo's mandatory minicamp, via the team's official website. "Everything gonna work how it's supposed to work." The Bills have rewarded extensions to multiple key players this offseason. Quarterback Josh Allen, defensive end Greg Rousseau, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford have all signed extensions. Cook is in the final year of his rookie deal. He's due to make $5.2 million in base salary, per Over the Cap. Cook said in February on Instagram Live that he hoped his next contract would pay him an annual average of $15 million. However, the running back market has since gone up. Barkley's new extension made him the first $20-plus million (per year) running back in NFL history. Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $35.89 million contract as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Cook is coming off a second straight Pro Bowl season in which he tied an NFL-high with 16 rushing touchdowns. He's produced two consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 rushing yards and 1,200 yards from scrimmage. The Bills originally drafted Cook in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Georgia. Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
