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The Buffalo Bills added a weapon to their backfield that can thrive in one way in particular: Making things happen with his hands.
Running back James Cook was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.
The third rusher picked at the event, Cook profiles exactly like someone Buffalo targeted before the draft.
After coming to terms with running back JD McKissic–the Bills then did… not sign him. McKissic ended up back with the Washington Commanders after deciding otherwise.
Observers of the Bills were excited about the thought of McKissic catching passes from quarterback Josh Allen. Now Buffalo feels the same about Cook and he has the confidence in his abilities to do just that… and then some.
“I’m versatile,” Cook said via video conference. “I can separate myself in the backfield and line up out wide and make the deep threats. And take the deep shots and go deep and score touchdowns. That’s what they’re getting in me – a touchdown maker.”
Cook, who lists at 5-foot-11 and 199 pounds, is a speedy back that also has that good set of hands. According to Pro Football Focus, Cook only had one drop on 68 career catchable passes thrown his way.
While a senior, Cook did not see a ton of work during his career at University of Georgia so he’s not the most experienced player. Of his 230 total carries in his college career, 113 came just last season.
But that also means there is plenty of tread on his tires as he heads to Buffalo. He won’t be a beaten up running back by any means.
Perhaps that gives Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane the confidence that Cook can contribute in multiple ways.
“We see his best skill set as a sub back, but I think he can handle carries too if we want to give him some more carries, but we really liked his skill set,” Beane said. “Again, similar to the one we saw with McKissic, a guy that’s got really good hands, very instinctive in the passing game. You can run all sorts of guys out in routes, it’s not that they can’t do it, but some guys just have the feel like a slot receiver.”
Cook did make his carries count at least, as he averaged 6.5 yards per carry and scored 14 times. As a pass catcher, Cook caught 27 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 2021.
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