Topic / Subject
Report: Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey rejected a record-setting offer and is reportedly seeking $10M per year, setting up a rare specialist contract standoff.

TL;DR
Reuters says the Cowboys tried to make Aubrey the highest-paid kicker and got a “no.” The ask is massive for the position, and the timeline pressure (tags/free agency deadlines) makes this one worth tracking.

Key Details

• Per Reuters, Dallas offered Aubrey a deal that would have made him the highest-paid kicker, but it was rejected.
• Per Reuters, Aubrey is reportedly seeking $10 million per year.
• Bleacher Report adds additional contract-detail framing to the standoff conversation.
• Exact structure (guarantees, length, timing) and whether talks restart before key deadlines are not confirmed.

Breakdown
Kicker negotiations usually don’t turn into headline stories, which is why this one pops. When a top specialist tries to reset the market, teams have to decide how much they’re willing to pay for stability versus how replaceable they believe the position is.

From Aubrey’s side, it’s simple leverage: elite performance + scarcity + the reality that teams panic when they don’t have reliable kicking. If you believe you’re a difference-maker, you push for difference-maker money.

From Dallas’ side, it’s the usual cap-priority puzzle. Every dollar committed to a kicker is a dollar not committed elsewhere, and the Cowboys always have multiple big-ticket decisions competing for the same money.

The result is a classic stare-down: the team wants value, the player wants market-setting respect, and the calendar forces someone to blink.

What We Know

• Reuters reported Aubrey rejected an offer that would have made him the highest-paid kicker.
• Reuters reported Aubrey’s asking price is $10M per year.
• There is no official announcement confirming a final agreement or the exact terms being negotiated.

What We Don’t Know

• The full offer details (guarantees, years, structure).
• Whether the Cowboys will adjust their offer or pivot to alternative mechanisms.
• How close the sides actually are, “rejected” can mean “not even close” or “close, but not there.”

What Would Confirm It

• A signed contract with terms reported by multiple reputable outlets.
• A formal team transaction that locks in Aubrey’s 2026 status (tag/tender/other).
• On-the-record comments from the team or Aubrey’s camp that clarify where negotiations stand.

Can This Actually Happen?
Yes. A standoff can last, especially when a player is trying to reset a market and the team believes it already made a “top-of-market” attempt.

For resolution, one of two things usually has to be true: either the team decides the cost is worth the certainty, or the player decides the team’s number is the best realistic outcome.

Would It Even Make Sense?
If you’re Dallas, paying a premium for a top kicker can make sense if you believe it directly saves you games and reduces late-game variance. But it only works if the contract doesn’t damage flexibility elsewhere.

If you’re Aubrey, asking for a market jump makes sense if you believe your performance is consistently elite and you can force the market to respect it.

This becomes less about “is $10M fair?” and more about “what’s the Cowboys’ pain threshold, and what other priorities are on the board?”

Verdict Box
Likelihood: Medium
Why: A deal getting done feels more likely than a true breakup, but the reported $10M AAV ask sounds like a stretch relative to where teams usually land at specialist positions.

What to Watch Next

• Whether credible insiders report the gap narrowing
• Any deadline-driven move that clarifies Aubrey’s short-term status
• Dallas’ spending priorities elsewhere that hint at how much flexibility they’re preserving
• If other teams show public interest signals that strengthen Aubrey’s leverage

Sources

• Reuters — Cowboys tee up free agency quandary with PK Brandon Aubrey
• Bleacher Report — New Cowboys rumors on Brandon Aubrey contract offer ahead of NFL free agency

Comment
If you’re Dallas, what’s your max number for an elite kicker, and why?