Bills' James Cook, Khalil Shakir get $21.3 million contract updates after Super Bowl
Bills' James Cook, Khalil Shakir get $21.3 million contract updates after Super Bowl originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
It's just a matter of procedure, but it's still a lot of money.
The day after the Super Bowl, four members of the Buffalo Bills had their contract salaries totally guaranteed for the 2026 NFL season, including offensive stalwarts James Cook and Khalil Shakir .
Cook and Shakir's salaries for the season ahead will combine for $21.3 million.
Spotrac shared the four guarantees in a post on X on Monday morning:
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Christian Benford $14.5 million
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Khalil Shakir $11.9 million
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James Cook $9.4 million
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Terrel Bernard $8.9 million
Bernard's salary might feel the toughest on the list, because he hasn't played up to his past level at middle linebacker.
Buffalo doesn't have a lot of depth at that position, though, and will likely have to rely on Bernard again in 2026.
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Benford grew into one of the best cornerbacks in football, and with that being a premium position, he earns his payday.
Shakir signed his deal before last season that made him the highest-paid slot receiver in the NFL, and he remains Josh Allen 's most trusted target.
Cook was the last to sign his contract, with it dragging on into the preseason, but that deal eventually got done, and he lived up to the big RB money.
All told, these are four guys Buffalo will need to be at their best to try and chase a Super Bowl.
It'll be a new-look Bills team in 2026 with Sean McDermott gone and Joe Brady the new head coach.
There's plenty of offseason work to be done, but at least with these contract guarantees kicking in, the Bills can start to envision what sorts of cap space they have to work with.
