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Dallas Cowboys executive Stephen Jones provided an update on where the team stands on contract negotiations with kicker Brandon Aubrey.
All eyes with the Dallas Cowboys are on wide receiver George Pickens because of the franchise tag deadline approaching. But Pickens is hardly the only key free agent the team possesses this offseason. That’s particularly the case when considering restricted free agents, which include kicker Brandon Aubrey.
It’s a lot harder for a restricted free agent to depart an NFL team. But that’s on the table for the All-Pro kicker this offseason.
Cowboys executive Stephen Jones, though, told reporters Monday the team is doing its best to re-sign Aubrey.
“We’ve been in talks with Aubrey since before the season started,” Jones told reporters, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “That’s been a journey.
“We haven’t been able to get to a point where we can all agree so it hasn’t gotten done, but we’d love to get him done.”
Aubrey has made first or second-team All-Pro in all three of his NFL seasons with the Cowboys. The past two years, he earned second-team All-Pro nominations.
During 2025, he connected on 85.7% of his field goals and went 47-for-48 on extra-point tries.
Aubrey only missed on kicks from 50 yards or further last season.
Cowboys Aiming to Keep Kicker Brandon Aubrey
It’s not hard to see why Dallas wants to retain its kicker. Aubrey has been one of the best in the league since joining the Cowboys at 28 years old in 2023.
The Plano, Texas native has made 88.2% of his field goals over three seasons. It’s still a relatively small sample, but with that percentage, Aubrey is ranked fifth all time in field-goal percentage.
Aubrey’s percentage is ranked highly mostly because of his very strong first NFL campaign. He made 36 of 38 field goals on his way to a first-team All-Pro nomination in 2023.
Fortunately for the Cowboys, similar to their situation with Pickens, Aubrey has limited free agency options. If Dallas does lose Aubrey, the team will very likely get something in return.
Because he’s a restricted free agent, the Cowboys can place a tender on Aubrey preventing him from leaving. If the Cowboys place a high-round tender on him, Aubrey will be more expensive, but Dallas would receive an early draft pick from any team who elects to sign the kicker in free agency.
“They could use the first- or second-round tender in order to guarantee themselves compensation if they choose not to match an outside offer for Aubrey’s services while the lowest tender would not give them anything back should Aubrey wind up leaving for another team,” wrote Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper.
The Cowboys also would have the ability to match any free agency offer Aubrey receives from another team.
What Aubrey Could Cost in 2026 NFL Free Agency?
Spotrac projected Aubrey’s market value to be about $26.2 million on a four-year contract. That would pay the kicker an average annual salary of about $6.5 million.
It’s not clear what the kicker is seeking or what the Cowboys may or may not have offered him.
But a $6.5 million average salary would make Aubrey the most expensive kicker on an annual basis.
Because he’s a restricted free agent, the Cowboys may be able to avoid inking Aubrey to that kind of deal immediately. Placing a high tender on Aubrey would all but eliminate the possibility of him departing because another team isn’t going to give up a high draft pick for a kicker.
But to avoid unnecessary contract drama, the Cowboys might have to make Aubrey one of the highest-paid kickers in the league.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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