The Dallas Cowboys' offense has benefited from Brandon Aubrey's emergence more than any other player on the roster, as the unheralded kicker has developed into an All-Pro at his position since arriving in Arlington.
Conventional wisdom suggests it would be in owner/general manager Jerry Jones' best interests to lock Aubrey up on a long-term contract as he hits restricted free agency this offseason. However, the more prudent decision would be to table those negotiations for the time being so that Dallas can avoid making a mistake.
One that could easily be prevented by allowing the front office to do its due diligence in fully evaluating its needs before signing the kicker.
Cowboys Must Delay Signing Brandon Aubrey to Big-Money Contract
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's address the elephant in the room.
Regardless of what the numbers come to on Aubrey's next deal, it will not be a contract that cripples the Cowboys' ability regarding roster construction. Entering the 2025 campaign, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was the league's highest-paid player at that position, and that deal's average annual value is $6.4 million.
Having said that, when building a 53-man roster, the manner in which every dollar available under the salary cap is allocated is of utmost importance.
There are plenty of holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, and those needs should take precedence over Aubrey, given the kicker is slated to be a restricted free agent. That means the Cowboys have more leverage over his future, meaning they don't need to worry as much compared to if he were an unrestricted free agent.
Then, there is the matter of Aubrey's noticeable slide at the end of the 2025 campaign when compared to how he started:
Statistic | Week 1 to Week 15 | Week 16 to Week 18 |
|---|---|---|
Field-Goal Percentage | 27-of-29 (93.1%) | 9-of-13 (69.2%) |
FG% from 50+ Yards | 9-of-11 (81.8%) | 2-of-6 (33.3%) |
Long field goals are what made Aubray a household name around the NFL, and showing possible signs of regression as he enters free agency only further muddies the waters once negotiations begin. Although Spotrac's $6.5 million projected market value is fair for the old Aubrey, it might be too rich a price if those late-season struggles persist.
After all, the Chiefs and Green Bay Packers saw what happened to Butker and Brandon McManus, respectively, after signing them to big-money contracts before the 2025 campaign. Both kickers' performances took a step back and might not be worth their remaining contracts, which is the last thing the Cowboys want to go through with their star leg.
It would be an absolute stunner to see Aubrey kicking for another NFL franchise once the 2026 campaign gets rolling later this year. That confidence shouldn't turn into a situation where Dallas outbids itself for a player it already has the best chance of putting ink to a new, shiny contract.
There should be no doubt that Aubrey is a dynamic weapon in the kicking game, and the Cowboys are lucky to have him as part of their program. Jones and the front office can't let a homegrown success story turn into an unnecessary overpay, though.