Locked On Cowboys: Brandon Aubrey Contract Tug-of-War — Will Dallas RESET the Kicker Market?

Episode Overview

Date: February 24, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Theme:
This episode dives deep into the contract dilemma surrounding Cowboys All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey, a restricted free agent poised to command a market-resetting deal. The hosts weigh the complicated financial and strategic implications for Dallas, explore trade scenarios, and debate what the “best kicker in the league” should be worth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Aubrey Contract Impasse (01:12–06:46)

• Restricted Free Agency Status & Ongoing Negotiations

  • Aubrey is a restricted free agent, and though Cowboys exec Stephen Jones wants a deal, talks have stalled.
  • The contract isn’t “as cut and dry as many people think” (01:12).

• Resetting the Kicker Market

  • Mosher speculates Aubrey seeks to surpass the current top kicker salary:

    “The highest paid kicker in the NFL right now is ... 6.4 million per year and Aubrey has been significantly better over the last three years. ... Aubrey is going to want to completely reset the market and I’m not sure how or what that number would even look like.” (02:42)

• Owner Reluctance & Historical Precedent

  • Landon draws parallels to past deals that “reset” markets and the behind-the-scenes owner politics:

    “Jerry doesn’t want to be that guy that all the other owners are looking at going, what an idiot. Why did he market for. Of all things, right?” (04:06)

  • Reference to Dak Prescott’s contract also being ahead of its time (04:22).

• Cap Pressures & Exploding Offense Costs

  • The Cowboys already field the league’s most expensive offense.
  • Adding a record deal for a kicker could push their spending into uncharted territory:

    “If you resign him, we could be talking seven and a half, $8 million a year for a kicker. You know, maybe more... his number last year was 800,000. If he gets, let’s say, $9 million, he’s making $8 million more than he made last year. That is a significant number.” (05:50)

• Positional Value & Team Needs

  • Debate on whether you can afford market-setting kicker spending given needs elsewhere, notably on defense:

    “Can you continue to invest this much money into offense? I know Aubrey plays special teams, but you get the point.” (05:50)

The “What If” — Trade Talk & Downside of a Big Kicker Deal (09:14–13:33)

• Trade Value & Market for Aubrey

  • If the contract talks collapse, could Dallas trade Aubrey?
  • Landon on possible trade compensation:

    “Could you get a fourth round, a third round pick for him? I think it’s possible.” (11:31)

• Risks of Big Commitment to a Kicker

  • Overuse Concern:

    “I have a fear that there would be a tendency to overuse the kicker. ... Because he’s so good from long distance, it actually ended up hurting the offense.” (09:56–10:09)

  • Kicker Volatility:
    The hosts highlight how quickly kickers can go from elite to unreliable:

    “Kickers are guaranteed to just break at some point. ... Like, how many times? ... Dan Bailey, Brett Maher, Nick Folk... you watch it and it’s just inevitably going to happen at some point and if you invest a bunch of money ... it’s just going to feel sick when that happens.” (10:33–11:00)

• Long-Term vs. Year-to-Year Approach

  • Marcus proposes a practical solution—use the second-round tender ($5.8M fully guaranteed):

    “Just let him play on the tender this year. ... I don’t know if you want to marry yourself to these kickers, even when they look like they’re unstoppable, going year to year is probably the best way to do it.” (12:07)

• Potential for In-Season Trade

  • If Aubrey excels but Dallas doesn’t want to extend, they could attract trade offers from contending teams in need, e.g., Buffalo Bills or San Francisco 49ers at the end of the third round (13:33).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Market-Setting Pressure

  “Aubrey is going to want to completely reset the market and I’m not sure how or what that number would even look like.”
  — Marcus Mosher (02:42)

• On Owner Optics

  “Jerry doesn’t want to be that guy that all the other owners are looking at going, ‘what an idiot. Why did he market for. Of all things, right?’”
  — Landon McCool (04:06)

• On Spending Priorities

  “Can you continue to invest this much money into offense? ... You have needs everywhere else, especially on your defense.”
  — Marcus Mosher (05:50)

• On Kicker Volatility

  “Kickers are guaranteed to just break at some point. It’s just what they all do. ... Dan Bailey, Brett Maher, Nick Folk... inevitably going to happen at some point and if you invest a bunch of money in here, especially record breaking money, it’s just going to feel sick when that happens.”
  — Landon McCool (10:33–11:00)

• On Conservative Approach

  “Just let him play on the tender this year. ... Going year to year is probably the best way to do it.”
  — Marcus Mosher (12:07)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:12 — Episode theme introduction: Aubrey's contract complexity
• 02:42 — Aubrey’s leverage and desire to reset the kicker market
• 04:06 — Owner psychology and resistance to being the “market resetter”
• 05:24–06:46 — Salary cap stress, overall offense cost, and kicker value debate
• 09:14–10:33 — The risks and nuances of a potential trade route
• 10:33–11:00 — “Kicker breakage” and the long history of Cowboy kicking disappointments
• 12:07–13:33 — Hosts advocate for the franchise tender and “prove it” approach

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Contract talks for Aubrey are complex, with potential for market-resetting demands.
• Ownership is wary of overpaying at a traditionally volatile position.
• Dallas faces a balancing act between loyalty to an All-Pro kicker and overall roster needs, especially on defense.
• Best move? Tender Aubrey for a season, explore trade value discreetly, and avoid a long-term commitment unless his performance and value prove exceptional for another year.

Hosts:

• Landon McCool [@McCoolBCB]
• Marcus Mosher [@Marcus_Mosher]

Stay tuned for more Cowboys news, insights, and contract updates on Locked On Cowboys—your team, every day!