Topic / Subject

The Cowboys placed a second-round tender on Brandon Aubrey, which keeps him protected while long-term contract talks remain unresolved. 

TL;DR

Dallas kept control of the player, but not the argument. Aubrey is still in the building, yet the extension gap means this could stay uncomfortable for a while. 

Key Details

• Reuters reported Dallas placed a second-round tender on Aubrey worth about $5.7 million. 

• The tender lets Aubrey sign an offer sheet elsewhere, while Dallas keeps the right to match or take second-round compensation. 

• ESPN reported the Cowboys still hope to sign him to a multiyear extension. 

• Reuters said Aubrey turned down a reported offer that would have made him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. 

Breakdown

This move was about leverage and protection, not peace. Dallas made sure Aubrey could not walk easily, but the bigger story is that both sides are still apart on a long-term number. 

That is why this feels a little tense. A second-round tender is useful team business, but it does not solve the real issue. Per Reuters, Aubrey reportedly rejected a deal that would have made him the league’s highest-paid kicker, which tells you his camp believes the market should be pushed even higher. 

For Dallas, the logic is easy to follow. Aubrey has become one of the league’s best kickers, and the Cowboys do not want to lose him for nothing. The tender keeps them in control while they try to bridge the money gap. 

What to Watch Next

• Whether another team actually tests Dallas with an offer sheet

• Whether the Cowboys move closer to Aubrey’s asking price

• If contract talks pick up before the market gets louder

Sources

Reuters — Reports: Cowboys put 2nd-round tender on K Brandon Aubrey

ESPN — Cowboys put 2nd-round tender on Brandon Aubrey, sources say

Comment

Should Dallas just pay Aubrey now, or is the team right to hold the line a little longer?