Cowboys Kicker Brandon Aubrey Seeks Record-Breaking $10 Million Contract

Dallas front office and Aubrey's agent remain far apart in negotiations as team faces critical offseason decisions.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 3:03pm

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The Dallas Cowboys are engaged in contentious contract negotiations with All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey, who is seeking a deal worth around $10 million per season - a figure that would shatter the current record for the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. While the Cowboys have proposed a contract that exceeds the league-leading $6.4 million average annual salary of Kansas City's Harrison Butker, Aubrey's agent is holding firm on his client's lofty demands. With Aubrey being a restricted free agent, the Cowboys are likely to use a second-round tender worth nearly $5.8 million to keep him under contract for 2026, but the long-term outlook remains uncertain as the team faces critical roster decisions this offseason.

Why it matters

The Cowboys' contract standoff with Aubrey highlights the team's broader challenges as it looks to retool its roster and end a two-year playoff drought. Aubrey's record-breaking salary demands could complicate the team's efforts to address other pressing needs, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where the Cowboys are exploring potential trades of their first-round draft picks.

The details

According to reports, both the Cowboys and Aubrey's agent agree that he should be the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, but there is a significant gap in their valuations. The Cowboys have proposed a deal that exceeds the current league-leading average of $6.4 million per season held by Kansas City's Harrison Butker, but Aubrey's agent is seeking a contract closer to $10 million per year. Negotiations began last season but have not made substantial progress, with Cowboys executive Stephen Jones describing it as 'a journey' that the team has been unable to reach an agreement on.

  • Negotiations between the Cowboys and Aubrey's agent began last season.
  • The Cowboys are likely to use a second-round tender worth nearly $5.8 million to keep Aubrey under contract for 2026.

The players

Brandon Aubrey

An All-Pro kicker for the Dallas Cowboys who is seeking a record-breaking contract worth around $10 million per season.

Stephen Jones

The Executive Vice President of the Dallas Cowboys, who has been leading the contract negotiations with Aubrey's agent.

Harrison Butker

The Kansas City Chiefs kicker who currently holds the record for the highest-paid kicker in the NFL with an average annual salary of $6.4 million.

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What they’re saying

“It has been a journey, but we haven't been able to reach a point of agreement.”

— Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President, Dallas Cowboys (ESPN)

“We'd love to get it done.”

— Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President, Dallas Cowboys (ESPN)

What’s next

The Cowboys must decide whether to continue their trend of waiting until the last moment to secure key players or to take proactive steps to bolster the 2026 roster and end their playoff drought.

The takeaway

The Cowboys' contract standoff with Brandon Aubrey highlights the team's broader challenges as it looks to retool its roster and end a two-year playoff drought. Aubrey's record-breaking salary demands could complicate the team's efforts to address other pressing needs, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where the Cowboys are exploring potential trades of their first-round draft picks.