Buffalo Bills

One NFL executive believes Josh Allen's importance to the Buffalo Bills is similar to the significance of Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The executive made the comparison to The Athletic's Mike Sando after the Bills inked Allen to a six-year, $330 million extension with four years remaining on his previous deal.

“I view it like the NBA and Giannis or one of those other stars in a market where you may not be able to keep stars,” the NFL executive told Sando. “You want to do the max deal as early as possible, because in this case, you don’t have a franchise without Josh Allen.”

Allen's new deal, which is set to keep him in Buffalo through the 2030 season, set an NFL record with $250 million in guaranteed money.

The Bucks took a similar path with Antetokounmpo at the beginning of the 2023-24 season when the team signed him to a three-year, $186 million contract extension with two full seasons remaining on his previous deal.

Months before the Bucks announced the deal in October 2023, Antetokounmpo said he didn't plan to sign a new contract until 2024, when he could get more money on his deal.

He ultimately decided to sign his new contract early in what he told reporters was an effort to keep the Bucks' focus on "straight basketball."

"It was very helpful," Antetokounmpo said in October 2023, per ESPN's Jamal Collier. "I didn't have to think about it. And I don't think it's just helpful to me, it's helpful to the team too. They don't want to hear about, 'Oh, Giannis is leaving. Giannis is staying' the whole year."

Allen similarly cited the Bills' concerns when talking to reporters about his decision to sign his own record-breaking deal.

"I wasn't looking to absolutely kill them at every chance I could, and I told my agent that," Allen said in March, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "I was like, if it has any impact on the cap, let's figure out a way to not do that."

Allen's salary currently represents 19.7 percent of the NFL salary cap, ranking 13th among quarterbacks, per Spotrac. Antetokounmpo will take up more than a third of the Bucks' cap next season, Spotrac reported.

Those cap restrictions could ultimately be worth it for both teams if those two star players are able to lead their franchises to a championship. Antetokounmpo will look to start a potential title run by helping the Bucks stay in a guaranteed playoff spot and out of the Eastern Conference play-in round this spring.

Extension season continues for the Buffalo Bills, who have given a new long-term contract to cornerback Christian Benford.

Benford's agents, Hadley Engelhard and Jim Ulrich, told ESPN's Adam Schefter their client agreed to a four-year, $76 million extension with the Bills on Saturday.

No team has been busier this offseason in terms of extending their own guys than the Bills.

Benford is the fifth different player who has received a new contract in the past five weeks. Josh Allen (six years, $330 million), Greg Rousseau (four years, $80 million), Khalil Shakir (four years, $53.1 million) and Terrel Bernard (four years, $42.1 million) are the others who got paid.

Rousseau, Shakir, Bernard and Benford all got their extensions before the final season of their rookie contracts.

Getting all of these deals done early allows the Bills long-term financial flexibility since they know what their cap is going to look like for many of their key players and could make adjustments to any of them as needed.

Benford is a terrific developmental success story for the Bills. The 24-year-old was a sixth-round pick out of Villanova in 2022. He appeared in nine games as a rookie, making five starts.

The Bills made Benford a starting cornerback to open the 2023 season. He led the team with 10 passes defensed in 15 games, but a knee injury kept him out of the AFC Divisional Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

In his second year as a full-time starter in 2024, Benford had a breakout season that earned him a down-ballot vote for Defensive Player of the Year. He ranked first among all cornerbacks with 0.51 yards allowed per coverage snap.

Given where the market for cornerbacks this offseason with Derek Stingley Jr. and Jaycee Horn becoming the two highest-paid players at the position, the Bills locking in an ascending star like Benford on a deal paying him $19 million annually has the potential to age very well.

Veteran linebacker Matt Milano can become a free agent next offseason as part of a contract restructure with the Buffalo Bills.

Per Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz, the Bills removed a year from Milano's contract to make him eligible for free agency after the 2025 season.

Schultz noted Milano also agreed to take a $3 million pay cut for the upcoming season, but he can earn that money back in incentives.

Coming off his All-Pro season in 2022, the Bills gave Milano a two-year extension worth $14 million annually in March 2023. The deal was going to keep him under contract through the 2026 season.

Injuries have kept Milano off the field for most of the past two years. He played just five games in 2023 due to a fractured leg and knee injury suffered in a Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Milano suffered a torn biceps during a practice last August that caused him to open the season on injured reserve. His debut in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers was his first appearance in a game since October 2023.

An encouraging sign going forward is that Milano was able to play a full workload in the postseason. He was on the field for more than 80 percent of Buffalo's defensive snaps in each of its three playoff games, including a season-high 98.5 percent against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

The sample size for Milano in 2024 was small, but he did show signs of still being capable of making a positive impact. He had five quarterback hits and two sacks in the postseason.

A strong season in 2025 will allow Milano to test free agency at the age of 31 when he could receive a good contract, either from the Bills or another team looking for help at linebacker.

Milano has spent his entire NFL career with the Bills since being selected in the fifth round of the 2017 draft. He has appeared in 94 games over the past eight seasons, racking up 504 combined tackles and 10.5 sacks.

The Buffalo Bills and superstar quarterback Josh Allen agreed to a new record-setting six-year, $330 million contract that includes $250 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The reigning NFL MVP is now the league's highest-paid quarterback and the new deal is the largest guarantee ever given to an NFL player.

The Bills confirmed the news on social media:

In 2021, Allen signed a six-year, $258 million extension before his rookie contract expired, and at the time, it made him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.

However, as more quarterbacks signed new deals, Allen was bumped down the list. By the end of the 2024 campaign, Allen was only 14th among quarterbacks with an average annual value of just over $43 million.

That salary was clearly disproportionate to Allen's actual value, as several far less accomplished quarterbacks made more than him, including Dak Prescott, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins and Deshaun Watson.

The 28-year-old Allen has put up huge numbers through his first seven NFL seasons, completing 63.3 percent of his passes for 26,434 yards, 195 touchdowns and 84 interceptions, while also rushing for 4,142 yards and 65 scores.

Turnovers have always been the biggest knock against Allen, but he toned them down considerably in 2024, throwing a career-low six interceptions.

Allen's passing volume numbers were down a bit, as his 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns were his lowest totals since 2020, but he still managed to rack up 41 total touchdowns, becoming the first player in NFL history to score 40 or more in five consecutive seasons.

Additionally, the three-time Pro Bowler has led the Bills to five straight AFC East titles and six straight playoff appearances.

None of those playoff runs have resulted in a Super Bowl berth, though, as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have eliminated the Bills four times, including last season when they outlasted Buffalo 32-29 in the AFC Championship Game.

Despite the Bills' inability to get past the Chiefs, Allen has been one of the best individual performers in playoff history.

In 13 career playoff games, Allen has completed 65.7 percent of his passing attempts for 3,359 yards, 25 touchdowns and four interceptions, plus he has rushed for 668 yards and seven touchdowns.

All signs point toward Allen being the right guy to get the Bills over the hump by winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history, and the new contract suggests the organization feels that way as well.

The Buffalo Bills have locked in a key young member of their defense by giving Terrel Bernard a contract extension.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Kyle Brandt, Bernard has agreed to terms on a four-year, $50 million deal that includes $25.2 million in guaranteed money.

The Bills are not wasting time in extending their players on rookie contracts who are eligible for extensions for the first time this offseason.

Khalil Shakir agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $60.2 million on Feb. 25. The contract was widely praised as a great one for the team, given where the receiver market is and how well Shakir has played over the past two seasons.

Bernard's extension is on the higher end for linebackers, but it's not breaking the bank. His $12.5 million average annual salary is tied with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah of the Cleveland Browns for sixth-highest among linebackers.

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Both Bernard and Shakir were members of Buffalo's 2022 draft class. Bernard was a third-round pick, while Shakir was taken in the fifth round. They were both rotation players as rookies before taking on much larger roles in their second seasons.

The Bills made Bernard a full-time starter at the start of 2023. He responded with a terrific season that saw him rack up 143 combined tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 17 games.

Injuries limited Bernard to 13 games during the 2024 campaign. He still finished second on the team with 104 combined tackles and tied for fourth with five tackles for loss.

With rumblings that Josh Allen could be in line for a new contract this offseason, the Bills being able to lock in two of their best young players on affordable contracts is a good piece of business as the organization looks to remain one of the premiere teams in the AFC going forward.

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After his breakout 2024 season, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir reportedly was rewarded with a major payday.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Bills and Shakir agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension worth up to $60.2 million, with $32 million guaranteed at signing.

The Bills selected Shakir with a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. After a quiet first two years in the league, he emerged as a favorite target for star quarterback Josh Allen in 2024, taking over the mantle of Buffalo's No. 1 receiver after Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans.

Shakir led the Bills with career highs of 76 catches and 821 receiving yards on 100 targets. He tied for second on the team with four receiving touchdowns, and his 597 yards after the catch ranked third in the NFL behind only Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase and Miami Dolphins speedster De'Von Achane. His breakout year helped the Bills finish second in the AFC with a 13-4 record before they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Conference Championship Game.

Shakir's emergence was particularly surprising after Buffalo's effort to improve its receiving corps after Diggs' departure. The Bills selected wideout Keon Coleman in the second round of the 2024 draft and then traded for veteran Amari Cooper during the season, but Shakir maintained his consistent production throughout the year.

Signing Shakir to an extension is the first big move in a crucial offseason for the Bills, who are still searching for a way to overtake the Chiefs as the top team in the AFC. Buffalo will have to continue to improve its roster to contend for a title in 2025, but committing to Shakir is a step in a positive direction.

Coming off the best season of his career, James Cook is looking for a new contract from the Buffalo Bills.

Appearing on the Nightcap show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk), Cook explained he's "standing on business" in looking for a new deal this offseason.

"I’m gonna stand on what I stand on," Cook said. "I don’t want to feel like a cancer at all ‘cause I don’t like that attention. That’s not me, honestly. I’m just standing on business, man, and what I deserve."

In a recent Instagram Live session, Cook pinned his comment that said he is seeking $15 million per season on a contract extension.

Those are certainly lofty ambitions for Cook. An average annual salary of $15 million would make him the second-highest-paid running back in the NFL, behind only Christian McCaffrey ($19 million).

This offseason marks the first time that Cook, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft, is eligible to sign an extension. He will earn $5.2 million in base salary next season on the final year of his rookie contract.

The Bills are one of five teams currently over the projected 2025 salary cap, so they will have to make some contract adjustments before the new league year begins on March 12.

Cook has taken over as Buffalo's No. 1 running back since the start of the 2023 season. He has run for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two years and tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns during the 2024 campaign.

Buffalo Bills mailroom employee Roderick "Slick Rick" Morrow, who became well-known after quarterback Josh Allen shouted him out during his NFL MVP acceptance speech, has been gifted a free car, per Claudine Ewing of WGRZ.

West Herr Auto Group gifted Morrow a 2017 Chevy Traverse and made a presentation on Friday.

"We fell in love with the earnest, humble, and salt of the earth Buffalo guy that is Slick Rick," a West Herr official said, per Ewing, "and it was through these heartwarming interviews and on social media that came to West Herr's attention that Slick Rick has been taking the trek from the city all the way to Orchard Park by bus every day. He has been without a vehicle of his own to drive to work. So we did the math and said ok, Slick Rick needs his own. I think we have a few of those and we can help with that."

In his acceptance speech, Allen shouted out a host of people, including the many behind-the-scenes folks (including Slick Rick) who helped the team succeed.

Now the community is reaching out to the beloved Slick Rick, who now has a new ride in recognition of his service to the Bills.

After the Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl 59, it's time to take a look at the top contenders for next year's Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California.

Top five contenders for Super Bowl 60, per DraftKings Sportsbook:

• Philadelphia Eagles +550
• Kansas City Chiefs +700
• Buffalo Bills +700
• Baltimore Ravens +700
• Detroit Lions +900

The Eagles are the early favorites after dismantling the back-to-back Super Bowl champions on Sunday, opening at +550 odds to win it all next season.

Jalen Hurts delivered a stellar performance, throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown, while veteran Saquon Barkley contributed 57 yards on the ground. With their dominant showing, the Eagles successfully denied the Chiefs' bid for a historic three-peat and now stand as the clear top contenders heading into next season.

Despite their blowout loss to the Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs opened at +700 odds, tied for the second-best chance to win Super Bowl 60. The Buffalo Bills (+700 odds), led by MVP Josh Allen and the Baltimore Ravens (+700 odds) are also in the mix.

Buffalo ended the season 13-4, finishing atop the AFC East before suffering a heartbreaking 32-29 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

Allen, fresh off his MVP season, threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns, posting the league's highest quarterback rating at 77.3. With his elite play, a first career Super Bowl appearance could be on the horizon.

Baltimore, which went 12-5 before falling to the Bills in the AFC Divisional Round, remains a legitimate threat in the AFC. Behind two-time MVP—nearly three-time—Lamar Jackson, who tallied 41 touchdowns and 4,172 yards last season, the Ravens could push Buffalo for conference supremacy.

The Washington Commanders, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, completed an impressive turnaround from their 4-13 record last season, finishing 12-5. With their remarkable improvement, they enter the offseason with strong Super Bowl hopes in eighth place, sitting at +1,900 odds.

Despite not reaching a Super Bowl since 1957, the Detroit Lions are among the top favorites at +900 odds. Super Bowl 58 runner-up San Francisco sits at +1,500 odds, while the Cincinnati Bengals, a recent Super Bowl contender, remain in the hunt at +1,800 odds.

At the bottom of the odds board, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns share the longest Super Bowl 60 odds at +20,000 after finishing the season 3-14.