Brandon Aubrey’s kicks have turned into a show for Cowboys Nation. Every booming strike feels special. In Week 2, he was the hero in a wild 40-37 overtime win against the Giants. The chants from the Dallas faithful said it all. Now comes the contract talk.

Aubrey will hit restricted free agency after this season, and he’s not shy about where he stands. He has said he’s the best kicker in the NFL. To be fair, the resume backs him up. He just picked up his fourth NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award, more than any Cowboy ever. Aubrey delivered a masterful performance in Dallas’s 40-37 overtime victory over New York, converting all four field goal attempts. His heroics included a 64-yard kick to force overtime and a 46-yard walk-off winner.

Aubrey made history by becoming the first kicker ever to nail two game-deciding kicks with no time remaining. One at the end of regulation and another to end the game. The unprecedented clutch combination showcased his ability to perform under ultimate pressure in consecutive critical moments.

The bigger question is simple: what does that payday look like? And should Dallas even consider paying premium money at the position?

There’s a cautionary tale as well. Atlanta‘s Younghoe Koo exemplifies the risks of investing heavily in kickers. Like Aubrey, Koo took an unconventional path through spring leagues before joining the Falcons in 2019, where he initially excelled with a 92.5% success rate from 2019 to 2021.

After Atlanta rewarded him with a five-year, $4.85 million annual deal, Koo’s performance declined to roughly 82% accuracy. His struggles culminated in a crucial missed kick during the season opener, leading to his benching this past week. The situation demonstrates how quickly kicker performance can deteriorate after securing long-term financial security.

Dallas has a painful precedent with kicker investments. The Cowboys signed veteran Mike Vanderjagt to a three-year deal before the 2006 season, hoping the two-time Pro Bowler would provide long-term stability.

Instead, Vanderjagt missed five field goals and was released before December of that same season, never kicking in the NFL again. The costly experiment serves as a stark reminder of how quickly kicker situations can deteriorate, even with proven veterans. Still, people believe Aubrey might not fit that script.

Yes, he’s 30. But for a kicker, that’s not old. With 82 makes on 91 tries, he’s as steady as they come. Across the league, the belief is he could command $7 million per year. That’s more than Harrison Butker’s $6.4 million deal. Aubrey even switched to Todd France as his agent, the same guy who reps Dak Prescott. The Cowboys already pay their stars like no one else. Soon, they might add kicker to that list.

Any new deal would likely make Aubrey the NFL’s highest-paid kicker. His historic performance justifies seeking to become the league’s first $7 million per year kicker, matching Harrison Butker’s salary cap-adjusted value. A $20 million fully guaranteed package at signing appears reasonable given his clutch contributions.

If Jerry Jones balks at Aubrey’s demands and the kicker plays out his current deal, he would become a restricted free agent in 2026. Using only the lowest RFA tender, which provides just matching rights without compensation, would be a dangerous gamble that could allow other teams to poach Dallas’s game-changing specialist.

But by the looks of it, Jones doesn’t seem to be in a hurry. Looks like he is already convinced.

Jerry Jones feels Brandon Aubrey’s extension certainly is coming

Brandon Aubrey keeps giving Cowboys Nation reasons to cheer. And after the game, Jerry Jones didn’t hold back his praise. “He won that game,” Jones said. “He’s a terrific weapon.” Coming from the owner, that kind of praise says everything about where Aubrey stands.

However, soon after that, Jones went on 105.3 The Fan and got right to the point. Asked about a possible extension, he didn’t hesitate. “Well, he certainly is coming,” Jones said. “We’ll be looking at that, probably have had communications since the kick. He’s certainly in the future.” For a kicker, that’s as clear as it gets. Jones knows the Cowboys don’t want to mess around with a guy this reliable.

Still, there’s always context in Dallas. Micah Parsons looked like a locked deal before his shocking trade to Green Bay. The Aubrey situation feels much different, though. Kickers don’t command the same kind of dollars or drama. That makes this one a cleaner negotiation, and it’s why fans at AT&T Stadium might see a new deal done sooner rather than later.