The Dallas Cowboys made a strategic move by extending Javonte Williams before he hit free agency, a departure from their usual cautious approach. Now, they’re looking to secure star kicker Brandon Aubrey, but the negotiations are shaping up to be anything but simple.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys have offered Aubrey a deal that would make him the NFL's highest-paid kicker, surpassing the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker, who earns $6.4 million annually. While this seems like a fair offer, Aubrey's agent, Todd France, is pushing for a contract closer to $10 million per season.
If these demands hold true, trading Aubrey should be a serious consideration for Dallas. While Aubrey is exceptional, engaging in a financial standoff over a kicker could be risky business.
The Cowboys have already expressed their willingness to make Aubrey the top-earning kicker, but $10 million a year is a stretch. Even though Aubrey might be the best kicker in the league, the overall talent at the position has improved.
For example, Cameron Dicker of the Chargers is equally dependable. Aubrey’s leg strength is unmatched, yet the gap between him and other kickers has narrowed since his standout rookie year in 2023.
Last season, among kickers with at least 20 attempts, Aubrey ranked 15th with an 85.7% conversion rate and was 11-of-17 on kicks over 50 yards. For context, he nailed 24 of 27 attempts from that range in his first two seasons.
His conversion rate has dipped to 85.4% over the last two seasons, down from 94.7% as a rookie. While still a potent weapon, the decline is noticeable.
Replacing Aubrey’s production would be challenging, but meeting France's demands isn't feasible for the Cowboys. Archer notes that Dallas might use a second-round tender on Aubrey, costing about $5.8 million. If another team signs him and Dallas doesn’t match, they’d receive a second-round pick.
Aubrey could stay with the Cowboys under the restricted free agent tender, allowing Dallas to potentially use the franchise tag next year to keep him from unrestricted free agency.
This is one option, but the Cowboys need to keep all avenues open. Committing $10 million annually to a kicker isn’t a viable path forward.