Brandon Aubrey wants to reset the kicker market. The Cowboys want to pay him well, just not that well.
The three-time Pro Bowler and his agent Todd France have been at an impasse with Dallas since last September, when the team offered a deal that would have made Aubrey the NFL’s highest-paid kicker. Per Clarence Hill of DLLS Sports, that offer exceeded Harrison Butker’s $6.4 million annual salary with Kansas City, but never reached the $7.5 million figure reported this week.
France countered with a $10 million demand, then went silent until the Combine.
On Wednesday, France posted a video of Jerry Jones’ bus with a caption blasting the “misinformation” spreading around Indianapolis. Aubrey himself commented “Fake” on an Instagram post discussing the leaked numbers. His wife Jenn added “False” to another.
Dallas isn’t sweating.
The Cowboys are comfortable placing a second-round tender on Aubrey, guaranteeing him roughly $5.8 million for 2026 while retaining right of first refusal. If another team signs him away, Dallas gets a second-round pick.
It’s strong leverage against a kicker who owns the NFL record for 60-plus yard field goals. But leverage doesn’t always close deals. Here’s what people around the NFL are saying.
Social Media Reaction Around Brandon Aubrey
Brandon Aubrey
Replying to a post on Instagram, Brandon Aubrey called the report fake.
Todd France
Todd France, the agent for Brandon Aubrey, said on Instagram, "The NFL combine…where misinformation spreads like wildfire. Looking forward to my meeting with the Cowboys on the bus."
Adam Schefter
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Cowboys and Aubrey are in agreement that he should be the NFL’s highest-paid player at his position. However, Schefter says that the disagreement is by how much.
Nick Wright
Nick Wright, co-host of First Things First on Fox Sports 1, said that Aubrey has that type of value. Wright stated that it is easier to find George Pickens than Brandon Aubrey and that's why he would prioritize him,
Dan Rogers
Dan Rogers, and independent creator on X, said that a kicker can go from great to bad in a heartbeat.
He pointed out that Jake Elliott became the highest-paid kicker a couple of years ago, and now he's one of the worst kickers in the league.
Rogers says that he loves Aubrey, but if their side is being unreasonable, he's okay with finding his replacement.
The Cowboys Wire
The Cowboys Wire, an independent outlet, said that they love Brandon Aubrey but would rather have a 2nd round pick than having Brandon Aubrey making $2 million (or higher) than the next-best-paid kicker.
Defy
Defy, an independent creator on X, said that the conversation is interesting because we’ve seen 2 different playcallers be cowards because they had him in their back pocket effectively making the offense worse in pretty big moments.
Defy then noted that at the same time, you can’t just pass on a guaranteed sniper at kicker,
Pat McAfee
Boisterous personality Pat McAfee said on The Pat McAfee Show that it would be awesome if Aubrey got $10M a year. McAfee, of course, was a punter for the Indianapolis Colts, so he has a soft spot for special teams players.
FergSZN
FergSZN, an independent creator on X, said, "Brandon Aubrey my man you decided to kick the wrong type of ball to be demanding that Mbappé money."
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