Who Should I Start? Nick Chubb or James Cook

Wednesday, April 23, 11:07 PM

While long-time Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (foot) remains on the free-agent market on the eve of the 2025 NFL draft, he doesn't appear to be considering retirement. "They've already wrote my ending when I'm just getting started," Chubb wrote on Instagram, adding a bat emoji. Chubb also posted a video on his social media page of him squatting significant weight, which is something he hadn't really done since a devastating knee injury that he suffered early in the 2023 season. The 29-year-old second-rounder and four-time Pro Bowler returned to play in eight games for the Browns in 2024 but didn't look like the same guy, averaging a career-worst 3.3 yards per carry on 102 rushing attempts for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Chubb also suffered a season-ending foot fracture in December, which no doubt has many teams skeptical about how much he can offer moving forward.

Thursday, May 8, 7:58 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook skipped the initial portion of the team's voluntary offseason workout program, but general manager Brandon Beane expects him to be ready for football when the time comes. Cook's holdout stems from contract talks, which are ongoing between the running back and team executives. "I know we've had people in the building that he's been talking with, and I have no doubt when it's time to play football, he'll be ready to roll," Beane said. Although an exact timeline is unclear, Cook could return as soon as June 10, when the Bills begin their mandatory minicamp for veteran players. Per the terms of the CBA, any player who misses all three days of mandatory minicamp will be hit with fines exceeding $100,000 total. That amount could be a drop in the bucket compared to Cook's next contract, but it's still a significant price to pay for missing three days of practice. Extending Cook would be in the Bills' best interest after he totaled 1,267 scrimmage yards and a career-high 18 touchdowns last season.