The Dallas Cowboys have been flexing their financial muscle lately, and all eyes are now on kicker Brandon Aubrey as the next star in line for a blockbuster deal. Ever since trading away All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in late August, the Cowboys have opened the vault for key players. Cornerback DaRon Bland kicked things off with a four-year, $90 million extension—potentially reaching $92 million with escalators—averaging a hefty $22.5 million annually, just days after the Parsons trade.
Fullback Hunter Luepke followed suit, inking a two-year, $7 million pact (up to $7.5 million max) that made him the NFL’s third-highest-paid at his position with $3.5 million per year, right before the season opener. Then, offensive guard Tyler Smith shattered the market with a four-year, $96 million extension averaging $24 million yearly, including a record $81.2 million in guarantees for guards, ahead of Week 2’s clash with the New York Giants.
Now, the spotlight turns to Aubrey, a 2023 undrafted free agent who’s been extension-eligible since the end of last season, much like Luepke. Currently in the final year of his modest three-year, $2.695 million rookie contract—earning just $1.03 million—Aubrey voiced his desire for a new deal back in February: “I’m eligible for an extension, so it’s up to my agent to go up to the Cowboys and see if there’s any interest in signing it there early.”
His heroics against the Giants may have sealed the deal in the front office’s minds. With the clock hitting zero in regulation, Aubrey drilled a jaw-dropping 64-yard field goal to force overtime. He then clinched the 40-37 thriller with a 46-yarder as time expired in the extra period. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones couldn’t hide his enthusiasm during his weekly radio spot on 105.3 The Fan: “Well, he (Aubrey) certainly is coming. We’ll be looking at that, probably have had communications since the kick. He’s certainly in the future.”
Aubrey isn’t just good—he’s arguably the league’s premier kicker. Since entering the NFL in 2023, no one has nailed more 50-plus-yard field goals than his 27-of-30 clip (90% success rate), including an astonishing four-of-six from 60 yards or beyond. Compare that to the rest of the league’s 69.2% (357-of-516) on 50-yarders and a dismal 35% (7-of-20) from 60-plus during the same span. As a rookie, he earned first-team All-Pro honors, followed by second-team nods in 2024. His 65-yard bomb against the Baltimore Ravens last year? That’s the second-longest in NFL history.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer summed it up post-Giants win: Aubrey’s range hovers around 70 yards. He even attempted one from that distance at halftime against the Carolina Panthers last season. In essence, once Dallas crosses midfield, Aubrey turns every drive into a scoring threat.
Adding intrigue, Aubrey recently switched agents to Todd France of Athletes First—the same rep behind Dak Prescott’s tough negotiations. France didn’t land Prescott’s deal by playing nice, and expect him to push hard for Aubrey. It’s tough to picture France settling for anything less than making Aubrey the NFL’s top-paid kicker, surpassing Kansas City Chiefs’ Harrison Butker’s four-year, $25.6 million extension from the 2024 preseason ($6.4 million average, $17.75 million fully guaranteed at signing—both records for kickers).
Given Aubrey’s dominance and the salary cap’s surge—from $255.4 million in 2024 to $279.2 million this year (a 9.32% jump)—a $7 million-per-year benchmark feels justified. Adjusted for inflation, Butker’s deal equates to about that much. Aubrey could even demand $20 million fully guaranteed upfront.
If the Cowboys drag their feet, Aubrey hits restricted free agency in 2026. The lowest tender—granting only matching rights—would run $3.5-3.575 million under a projected $300-305 million cap, but that’s a gamble, inviting offer sheets from rivals. A second-round tender (around $5.8 million) offers compensation if unmatched, a common safeguard for undrafted gems like Aubrey. Since the 2011 lockout, nine such kickers, including stars like Chris Boswell and Justin Tucker, have gotten this treatment.
Rarer still is the first-round tender (over $8 million), last used on corner Darious Williams in 2021, yielding a first-round pick if unmatched. But the franchise tag—projected at 2.164% of the cap ($6.5-6.6 million)—is the ultimate deterrent, requiring two first-rounders for an unmatched offer. No team would touch that for Aubrey.
Jones has shifted gears, proactively locking up core talent like Smith (whose fifth-year option ran through 2026) and Luepke to dodge RFA headaches. Delaying on Aubrey could backfire spectacularly if he keeps booming kicks; by next offseason, with cap growth nearing 20% since Butker’s deal, Aubrey might command over $7.5 million annually. Under a $302.5 million 2026 cap, Butker’s equivalent jumps to $7.575 million.