Cowboys tee up free agency quandary with PK Brandon Aubrey

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones probably didn't picture a scenario where Pro Bowl kicker Brandon Aubrey demanded a $10 million salary to stick around Dallas in lieu of flirting with other teams in restricted free agency, but the two sides could tee up that very reality in the days ahead.

Aubrey was reportedly offered a deal that would make him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, displacing Harrison Butker of the Chiefs ($6.4 million annual average salary). But Aubrey, a Pro Bowl selection in all three of his seasons and first-team All-Pro in 2023, rejected the contract, according to multiple reports, and wants something closer to three times the total value of his rookie deal.

The Cowboys intend to use the franchise tag to keep wide receiver George Pickens from running away from Dallas on the open market. Pickens, 25 on March 4, is an unrestricted free agent following a career year in his first season with the Cowboys (93 receptions, 1,429 yards, nine touchdowns). He played the first three years of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Aubrey, who turns 31 on March 14, is a restricted free agent, which does present a limited negotiating advantage for the Cowboys.

The peripheral details are the devil for Dallas.

Because Aubrey was undrafted, the Cowboys would not receive any compensation if another team made an offer they couldn't -- or chose not to -- match under the first-refusal rights the collective bargaining agreement affords. Even if the Cowboys placed a second-round tender on Aubrey at a one-year rate of $5.8 million, he could receive a heavily front-loaded offer or one framed with excessive bonuses that Dallas might not be able to match.

Jones has forever followed a negotiating position of waiting to sign player to contract extensions until deadlines arrive. It has been true of many past and current players -- quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb are recent examples -- and the delay in action tends to pack of wallop on the wallet of the longstanding Cowboys owner.

He has been discussing a "high priority" contract with Aubrey since watching him drill a game-tying 64-yard field goal as time expired in regulation, then a winning 46-yard kick in overtime of the Cowboys' 40-37 victory over the New York Giants in September.

The 2025 season wrapped up a three-year, $2.695 million contract for Aubrey. He made 36 of 42 field goal-attempts (85.7%), including 11 of 17 from 50 or more yards, and 47 of 48 extra-point attempts.

For his career, Aubrey is 112 of 127 (88.2%) on field goals with a long of 65 yards, and 126 of 130 (96.9%) on extra points.

--Field Level Media