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Brandon Aubrey #17 of the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up an eventful week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, even if all the news that came out around the team (primarily the placing of the franchise tag on star receiver George Pickens) was not surprising. But there was one eye-opening bit of drama, and it came from an unlikely source–kicker Brandon Aubrey.
Earlier in the week, multiple reports suggested that the Cowboys had made an offer on a new contract for Aubrey that would make him the highest paid kicker in the game, with one report saying the deal would be for $7.5 million per year. But that report, from beat writer Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, noted that Aubrey turned it down, because he’s seeking $10 million per year.
Both Aubrey and his agent, Todd France, rushed to social media to shoot down the veracity of the story, and Watkins in the end, walked it back. That’s good news for the Cowboys, who likely do not have the appetite to pay their kicker $10 million per year. But the concerning news is that we’re 10 days away from the opening of free agency, and there’s no new deal for Aubrey.
ESPN: Cowboys Should ‘Reach a Deal’ With Brandon Aubrey
But ESPN insider Dan Graziano reported on Sunday that there is an expectation that a deal will be hammered out by the time free agency begins–if not, the Cowboys will need to put a second-round tender on Aubrey to maintain his rights as a restricted free agent.
Writes Graziano: “Sabre rattling aside, I expect the Cowboys to reach a deal with Brandon Aubrey at some point in the first week or two of March that makes him the highest-paid kicker in the league.
“If they don’t get a deal done by the restricted free agent tender deadline, Dallas plans to put a second-round tender on Aubrey. That means he’d make $5.767 million this season if the two sides don’t reach a deal and the Cowboys would get a second-round pick if another team made Aubrey a contract offer they didn’t want to match.”
Brandon Aubrey Set to Break Kicker Contract Record
In other words, the Cowboys are very much likely to keep Aubrey in place, one way or the other. The simplest way would be to come up with a deal both sides can work with, and according to Spotrac, that would be a market-value contract of four years, and $26 million.
The current record-holder for kicker contract salary is Harrison Butker of the Chiefs, who is on a four-year, $26.5 million contract that pays an average of $6.4 million per year. Butker signed that deal in August of 2024, and the expectation is that Aubrey–who has made 112 of the 127 field goals he attempted in his career and was first- or second-team All Pro in each of his three seasons–will top that number.
Cowboys Have an ‘Offer on the Table’
Again, there is no real risk of the Cowboys losing out on Aubrey. Even if he is not signed by March 11, the team can continue working toward a long-term deal. If he gets an offer from another team, the Cowboys can match it. But an offer would be a longshot.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was clear that he wants to keep Aubrey.
“I think he’s outstanding,” Jones said. “Love his story, love the fact that the story is with the Cowboys. We feel good that what we are talking about is an appreciation of what he can do for us. That’s a way of, not trying to negotiate with anything I might say here, but we’ve got a good offer on the table for him.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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