Summary

James Cook was drafted in Round 2 (#63 Overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft out of University of Georgia. The younger brother of NFL star Dalvin Cook, James was a key contributor on Georgia’s historic defenses, serving as a dynamic offensive complement rather than a volume runner. During his collegiate career, he totaled 1,012 rushing yards, 1,225 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns, earning First-Team All-SEC honors (2021) and helping lead Georgia to a College Football Playoff National Championship. In the NFL, Cook has emerged as Buffalo’s primary running back and explosive offensive weapon. Through the 2024 season, he has compiled 3,000+ yards from scrimmage, 20+ total touchdowns, and consistently ranked among league leaders in yards per touch. Cook has become a focal point of Buffalo’s offensive evolution toward balance and has parlayed his production into a lucrative contract extension before the 2025 season that will tie him to Buffalo for a ton of Wegman’s visits for the foreseeable future.

Strengths

• Explosiveness: Quick acceleration and burst through the hole. Capable of turning small creases into chunk plays and is a threat to take it the distance at any time.

• Receiving Ability: Natural hands and effective on option routes and screens. Dangerous once in space with blocking in front.

• Open-Field Elusiveness: Sudden cuts and lateral agility create missed tackles. Very patient runner with stellar vision and anticipation for holes.

• Vision in Space: Excellent feel for leverage when attacking second-level defenders. Effective in zone, gap, and spread concepts.

Weaknesses

• Play Strength: Can be displaced by defenders in short-yardage situations. More explosive than forceful near the end zone.

• Between-the-Tackles Power: Not a natural downhill bruiser and is certainly a benefactor of lighter boxes due to the dual threat that his superstar quarterback poses.

• Pass Protection Consistency: Technique has improved but remains a work in progress.

• Ball Security: Minor early-career issues, though improved as he has matured into a focal point player.

Outlook

Cook is an excellent fit for modern, spread-based offenses that emphasize space, speed, and versatility. In Buffalo, he thrives when paired with Josh Allen’s arm and mobility, forcing defenses to defend horizontally and vertically. Cook’s ability to threaten defenses as both a runner and receiver creates matchup stress and opens up the playbook, particularly in play-action and empty formations. Looking ahead, Cook projects as a high-end RB1 whose value is rooted in explosiveness and efficiency rather than sheer volume. While he may not be a traditional workhorse, his speed, receiving ability, and big-play profile give him game-changing upside. With continued growth in pass protection and physical durability, Cook remains a core offensive piece capable of anchoring Buffalo’s evolving offensive identity and contributing to sustained playoff success.