Brandon Aubrey: Cowboys’ contract talk shows they’re aiming high, but not at his peak demand
The Dallas Cowboys are open to making Brandon Aubrey the NFL’s top-paid kicker, yet they haven’t met the $10 million per-year figure he’s seeking.
For months, Aubrey and Dallas have been negotiating an extension without reaching an agreement. Last week, the team leaked news that Aubrey was asking for a $10 million annual salary.
A correction from Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News clarified the situation: the team’s offer has been reported as $7.5 million, but the actual figure is even lower than that, though it still sits above the current league-high for a kicker, Harrison Butker of Kansas City, whose average stands at $6.4 million.
Dallas plans to place a second-round tender on Aubrey, yielding $5.81 million in 2026. This move lets Aubrey explore a potentially larger deal elsewhere, while Dallas retains the right of first refusal and would receive a second-round pick if it declines to match another team’s offer.
“Obviously the tender is what the Cowboys have talked about, and it’s a good problem to have,” Aubrey said Wednesday, as reported by Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News. “It’s a solid sum, and it represents a meaningful pay raise from where I started, but it isn’t the ideal scenario for any player. We’ll see how this plays out. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to be in this position.”
Aubrey, 30, has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his three seasons and owns an NFL-record six field goals from 60 yards or longer, with a career-long of 65 yards. However, his accuracy has seen some misses: seven misses in 2024 and six in 2025, most of which came from distances beyond 50 yards.
He also acknowledged the possibility of leaving Dallas if a rival offer comes in that the Cowboys won’t—or shouldn’t—match.
“When you get to restricted free agency, if you don’t test the market, you’re not doing what’s best for you and your family,” Aubrey explained. “So that’s a decision you have to consider if that’s the path it takes.”
And this is where it gets controversial: should teams push for record-breaking pay for specialists like kickers, or should market dynamics keep most players closer to conventional value for their position? What’s your take on Aubrey’s leverage and the Cowboys’ strategy in this situation?
