Who are the NFL’s highest-paid running backs? James Cook ranks sixth

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

1. Saquon Barkley, Eagles: $20.6 million/year

2. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers: $19 million/year

3. Derrick Henry, Ravens: $15 million/year

4. Jonathan Taylor, Colts: $14 million/year

5. Alvin Kamara, Saints: $12.25 million/year

6. Josh Jacobs, Packers: $12 million/year

7. James Cook, Bills: $12 million/year

8. Kyren Williams, Rams: $11 million/year

9. Aaron Jones, Vikings: $10 million/year

10. 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:

1. Josh Jacobs, Packers: $48 million

2. James Cook, Bills: $48 million

3. Jonathan Taylor, Colts: $42 million

4. Saquon Barkley, Eagles: $41.2 million

5. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers: $38 million

6. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots: $36 million

7. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders: $35.9 million

8. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers: $33.2 million

9. Kyren Williams, Rams: $33 million

10. 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:

1. Saquon Barkley, Eagles: $36 million

2. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders: $35.9 million

3. James Cook, Bills: $30 million

4. Jonathan Taylor, Colts: $26.5 million

5. Derrick Henry, Ravens: $25 million

6. Christian McCaffrey: $24 million

7. Kyren Williams, Rams: $23 million

8. Alvin Kamara, Saints: $22.2 million

9. Bijan Robinson, Falcons: $22.0 million

10. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions: $17.8 million

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Highest-paid NFL running backs: Bills’ James Cook sixth