After missing out on yet another Super Bowl appearance, the Buffalo Bills were already making moves to ensure their championship window with Josh Allen remains open. On Monday, multiple Bills players locked in a significant payday, that too without stepping on the field even once.

“4 #Bills players receive contract guarantees today,” reported Spotrac on X. “WR Khalil Shakir’s $11.9M 2026 salary is guaranteed. LB Terrel Bernard’s $8.9M 2026 salary is guaranteed. CB Christian Benford’s $14.5M 2026 salary & $2.5M of 2027 salary is guaranteed. RB James Cook’s $9.4M 2026 salary is guaranteed.”

Locking in Shakir with a $11.9M guarantee for 2026 was a no-brainer for the front office. After leading the team with 719 receiving yards, he has become a critical piece of the offense, and the Bills are clearly prioritizing their homegrown playmakers. Moreover, he signed a four-year contract extension last year, valued at $60.2 million, making him one of the highest-paid players in Buffalo. In fact, he emerged as arguably the Bills’ top weapon for Allen. While the team lacked a definitive No. 1 option, Shakir proved to be the most dependable target aside from tight end Dalton Kincaid.

Buffalo got a significant boost from Shakir, who remained reliably on the field despite the team battling numerous injuries. So, on the financial side, his $11.9 million salary became fully guaranteed as of Monday at midnight.

And in a season plagued by injuries, Shakir’s consistent availability gave Buffalo a major lift. His salary of $11.9 million officially became guaranteed when the clock struck midnight on Monday. Similarly, James Cook earned his contract.

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He dominated the NFL’s rushing leaderboard and emerged as one of Buffalo’s top offensive threats alongside Allen. The phrase “Let James Cook” turned out to be more than just a slogan, as he rose to elite status in his position following a hefty contract extension before the season. His 1,621 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns solidified his status as a star.

He finished the season with 309 carries for 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns. The player also added 33 receptions for 291 yards and two touchdowns.

The commitment to the offense was matched on the defensive side of the ball, where the Bills also locked in key starters Terrel Bernard and Christian Benford. The CB not only has two sacks to his name but also two interceptions and a touchdown. In Benford’s case, they paid him two years of guaranteed money at once.

Despite suffering some injuries, Bernard is a high-impact starter. He even led the Bills in tackles in 2023. However, his days might be numbered after a disappointing season. While Shakir, Benford, and Cook are expected to be a part of the team’s long-term future, Bernard’s future might depend on how well he adapts to the new 3-4 defense under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

While the Bills have paid almost $36 million in guarantees, they are still over their cap limit. As per Spotrac, they are almost $10 million over their cap. Star quarterback Josh Allen has the highest guarantee of $56 million. Restructuring his contract may provide the Bills with some cushion.

In 2024, the Bills converted almost $20 million of Allen’s salary into a signing bonus, giving them relief of $16.7 million. If the same thing is done, $12 million could open up, bringing the franchise back within legal boundaries. Speaking of Allen, Super Bowl LX has made things more difficult for the quarterback.

Josh Allen watches Sam Darnold bring glory to the 2018 NFL Draft class

Josh Allen has been trying for years to win the Super Bowl. Not only has he failed to win a Super Bowl, but he has also failed to reach one. Since being drafted in 2018, Allen has made it to the playoffs seven times. The franchise lost to the Chiefs multiple times in the playoffs since 2020. Unfortunately, the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback did it before the 2024 NFL MVP.

“Sam Darnold being the first in his draft class to win a #SuperBowl is quite astounding,” posted Brandon Pope TV on X.

Darnold, Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Baker Mayfield were from the 2018 NFL Draft class. For the fans, the latter three have been their first choices. But Darnold proved them wrong.

Early in his career, Sam Darnold struggled to reach the playoffs while moving between teams. In 2023, he served as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers during their Super Bowl run. His breakthrough came later with Seattle, where he started and led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title, becoming the first quarterback from the 2018 draft class to win one.

Darnold completed almost 67.7% of his passes for 4,048 passing yards and scored 25 touchdowns. He also threw 14 interceptions in the regular season. While Allen‘s stats are pretty similar to Darnold’s, he has scored 14 rushing touchdowns, while Darnold had none in that regard.

At the moment, Allen is recovering from a foot injury, while Darnold is busy partying. When next season kicks off, Allen will be looking to win a ring of his own and finally bring a title to Buffalo.