Another running back has gotten his bag, which means there are a few changes to the list of highest-paid players at the position in the NFL.
James Cook became the sixth-highest paid running back by average annual value, third-highest paid by guaranteed money and highest-paid by total value when he agreed to terms on his four-year, $48 million deal Wednesday morning. Cook’s new contract was also the sixth extension deal the Buffalo Bills have made so far this offseason.
The fourth-year running back had been holding out from Bills training camp while awaiting an extension, but his return to practice in recent days seemed to foreshadow the closing of an extension deal.
Here’s how other highest-paid running backs around the league rank using a variety of different categories:
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Highest-paid running backs in the NFL in 2025
Here’s which running backs are making the most money in the NFL in 2025, using AAV and 2025 cash value numbers from OverTheCap.com:
Highest-paid RBs by AAV 2025
Saquon Barkley, Eagles: $20.6 million/year
Christian McCaffrey, 49ers: $19 million/year
Derrick Henry, Ravens: $15 million/year
Jonathan Taylor, Colts: $14 million/year
Alvin Kamara, Saints: $12.25 million/year
Josh Jacobs, Packers: $12 million/year
James Cook, Bills: $12 million/year
Kyren Williams, Rams: $11 million/year
Aaron Jones, Vikings: $10 million/year
Joe Mixon, Texans: $9.875 million/year
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Highest-paid RBs by total contract value
Here’s how the top-paid running backs rank by overall contract value, according to OverTheCap.com:
Josh Jacobs, Packers: $48 million
James Cook, Bills: $48 million
Jonathan Taylor, Colts: $42 million
Saquon Barkley, Eagles: $41.2 million
Christian McCaffrey, 49ers: $38 million
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots: $36 million
Ashton Jeanty, Raiders: $35.9 million
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers: $33.2 million
Kyren Williams, Rams: $33 million
Derrick Henry, Ravens: $30 million
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Highest-paid RBs by guaranteed money
According to OverTheCap’s numbers, Cook’s contract makes him the third-highest paid NFL running back by guaranteed value. Here’s how the top 10 looks:
Saquon Barkley, Eagles: $36 million
Ashton Jeanty, Raiders: $35.9 million
James Cook, Bills: $30 million
Jonathan Taylor, Colts: $26.5 million
Derrick Henry, Ravens: $25 million
Christian McCaffrey: $24 million
Kyren Williams, Rams: $23 million
Alvin Kamara, Saints: $22.2 million
Bijan Robinson, Falcons: $22.0 million
Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions: $17.8 million
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Highest-paid NFL running backs: Bills’ James Cook sixth
