Cowboys Kicker Brandon Aubrey Stays Put After Deadline Passes

Aubrey will remain with the Cowboys in 2026 after no other teams made an offer to sign him.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:49pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Dallas Cowboys football game, with sharp, overlapping shapes in navy blue, silver, and white representing the action on the field.The Cowboys' ability to retain their star kicker Brandon Aubrey is a key piece of their plans for the 2026 season.Dallas Today

Dallas Cowboys three-time Pro Bowl kicker Brandon Aubrey will stay with the team in 2026 after the deadline for other teams to sign him to an offer sheet passed without any offers. Aubrey was given a second-round tender by the Cowboys, meaning any team interested in signing him would have had to give the Cowboys a second-round draft pick in return. With no offers, the Cowboys can now exclusively negotiate a new contract with Aubrey, though they could also have him play the 2026 season on a one-year, $5.811 million deal.

Why it matters

Aubrey has been one of the most consistent and reliable kickers in the NFL over the past three seasons, making the Pro Bowl in each of those years. Retaining him is crucial for the Cowboys' special teams unit and their hopes of contending for a Super Bowl in 2026.

The details

Per the rules of NFL restricted free agency, Aubrey could have signed an offer sheet with another team if that team was willing to give the Cowboys a second-round pick in return. However, no team made an offer, meaning the Cowboys can now exclusively negotiate a new contract with Aubrey. The Cowboys have the option of having Aubrey play the 2026 season on a one-year, $5.811 million contract or they can work out a long-term deal to keep him in Dallas beyond this season.

  • The 3 p.m. deadline for other teams to sign Aubrey to an offer sheet passed on April 17, 2026.
  • Aubrey became a restricted free agent at the start of the 2026 NFL offseason.

The players

Brandon Aubrey

A three-time Pro Bowl kicker for the Dallas Cowboys who has converted 112 of his 127 field goal attempts over the past three seasons, including a franchise-record 65-yard field goal.

Jerry Jones

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who has expressed a desire to sign Aubrey to a long-term contract extension.

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What they’re saying

“'I would say that I'm satisfied short of where we are with him signing the tender offer. I'm satisfied where we are there. I'm not going to get into what it would take [to sign him] because that's obviously still subject of a negotiation, but we do have long-term plans.'”

— Jerry Jones, Owner, Dallas Cowboys

“'Obviously, Dallas is my home. I'd like to keep it that way, so it would be nice to get a long-term deal going. Just need to sit down and have that conversation.'”

— Brandon Aubrey

What’s next

The Cowboys and Aubrey will now work to negotiate a long-term contract extension to keep the Pro Bowl kicker in Dallas beyond the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Retaining a consistent and reliable kicker like Brandon Aubrey is crucial for the Cowboys as they look to contend for a Super Bowl in 2026. The lack of interest from other teams in signing Aubrey to an offer sheet gives the Cowboys leverage to work out a long-term deal that keeps one of their most important special teams contributors in the fold.