Bills training camp questions: Can James Cook become the primary running back?

This is the third in a 10-part series previewing Buffalo Bills training camp.

On the night that Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane selected running back James Cook in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he emphasized what he liked best about the former Georgia standout.

“We feel like he’s kind of a wide receiver in his own way,” Beane said. “This was a guy that really stood out to us with the ball in his hands. You can split him out; he can run routes similar to a receiver; obviously he’s a good guy to hand the ball to in the backfield.”

Hearing that, Bills fans probably expected much more than what Cook ultimately produced last season – only 21 catches for 180 yards in addition to 507 rushing yards. Of course, last year the Bills still had Devin Singletary as their primary back and they eased Cook into his playing time and it did pick up in the final portion of the season.

Now Singletary is gone and the Bills will be looking to get more out of Cook because as a second-round pick, let’s be fair; he needs to step up and become the primary back. Having Damien Harris and Nyheim Hines is nice, but as a second-rounder, Cook needs to be the main man.

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“Yeah, he’s got to prove it, and I think he’s very well aware of that,” coach Sean McDermott said when asked if he believes Cook can be the No. 1. “I think he’s up for the challenge and we’ll see how far he can go.”

Last season, one thing that held Cook back was his insufficient pass protecting skills. The Bills realized it early and that was largely why his receiving numbers were so pedestrian. Counting the postseason he was on the field for just 173 pass snaps and only 18 times was he kept in to protect. Singletary played on 530 pass snaps and was kept in to block 93 times.

To be fair, pass protection is by far the toughest thing young running backs must learn when they reach the NFL. Rarely are the best backs asked to do it in college, and the transition can he difficult.

Obviously Cook will do his best work carrying or catching the ball – that’s why he was a second-round pick – but he has to be more reliable in pass protection if he hopes to earn at least Singletary-type snaps.

The Bills’ scouts saw a potentially dynamic talent in Cook and his 5.7-yards per carry average was an indication that they were right. Among running backs who gained at least 500 yards last year, that was tied for the highest average with J.K. Dobbins of the Ravens and Khalil Herbert of the Bears.

“I’m excited about those guys and that competition in that room,” offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said. “I think we got a really good room right there between the guys that we’ve had there and then the guys that we’ve brought in. Those guys are gonna be competing for those different spots and those different opportunities. I’m really excited about them.”

Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana and on Threads @salmaiorana1.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills training camp questions: Can James Cook become the No. 1 back?