This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/bills as Former All-Pro RB tabs Bills’ James Cook as ‘essential’ in 2025 index. If there is anything Maurice Jones-Drew can assess as an NFL Network analyst, it is the running back position.

The Buffalo Bills and James Cook are locked in a stalemate right now. The fourth-year running back is entering the final season of his rookie contract, worth $5.3 million. He's clearly worth more than that after an explosive 2024 campaign,

ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler polled executives, coaches, and others around the NFL anonymously to rank players in each position in his annual offseason polling. In terms of running backs, Cook cracked the top-10. Overall, Cook landed at the No. 8 spot.