Everybody with a pulse in the football world knows that the Dallas Cowboys should and will extend Brandon Aubrey this offseason. In fact, it feels inevitable that he signs a new extension with the Cowboys sooner rather than later, but there have been some hurdles in negotiations that Jerry Jones needs to clear.
Just like the rest of us, ESPN's Adam Schefter thinks Aubrey should be back in the Lone Star State. On his latest podcast, Schefter revealed that while it wouldn't cost much for Jerry to make him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history, he deserves more than just that.
“What would you be willing to pay a guy who made a difference in every single game? Is that worth $8 million? $10 million? $12 million? … To me, if I were in a front office, I’d be spending more than most people would on Brandon Aubrey.
Jerry Jones has said they’ve made an offer to Aubrey to make him the highest-paid kicker. I say make him the highest-paid kicker in the game and then some. And then whatever ‘then some’ is, is worth every penny. Because that guy is a difference-maker," Schefter said.
The Dallas Cowboys must exercise some restraint in contract talks with Brandon Aubrey
Schefter's perspective is easy to understand, but it's still a bit rich.
Currently, Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs is the highest-paid kicker in NFL history, as he's making $6.4 million per year on his new contract. We already know that Aubrey wants (and deserves) more money than that, but paying him north of $10 million a season is very extreme.
The 30-year-old is undoubtedly the best kicker in the NFL, and he's been everything the Cowboys have hoped for and more since they signed him. They struck gold in signing him in the first place, but while he's stabilized the kicking game overnight, there's no reason for them to overpay him.
The league's salary cap increase could make a kicker's contract look better over time, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that he wants to be back, and Dallas wants to bring back the three-time Pro Bowler. But being the team to reset the kicker market when you're already in the red is a terrible look.
Schefter is right in that Aubrey is a difference-maker. He's basically automatic. But paying him more than Javonte Williams earns per year ($8 million) makes no sense when Williams touches the ball at least 15 times per game.
The Cowboys can offer Aubrey a contract between $7 and $7.5 million a year and should get the job done, so what's the point of going overboard?