How much is a kicker worth? The Dallas Cowboys might soon find out.
On Saturday, the Cowboys placed a second-round tender ($5.76 million) on kicker Brandon Aubrey after failing to come to an agreement on a long-term extension. That sets a high price for the strong-legged kicker with an NFL-record six field goals of at least 60 yards. But perhaps another team will take the bait.
Dallas Cowboys willing to test Brandon Aubrey’s worth with second-round tender
Aubrey has become a significantly valuable weapon for the Cowboys, his booming leg giving the team an opportunity to score anytime it simply reaches midfield. He’s among the most accurate long-range kickers in league history, too, with his 79.5 percent rate on 50-plus yard attempts the third-highest among kickers with at least 40 attempts from the distance, per Stathead.
Giving a second-round pick, plus a contract Dallas wouldn’t want to match, might be a commitment too great for other teams to accept. At least that’s what the Cowboys are betting on.
But if any kicker is worth that price, Aubrey might be at the top of the list. Several teams could certainly use him, including the Baltimore Ravens, who just swung big in agreeing to trade for edge-rusher Maxx Crosby. Last season, rookie sixth-round kicker Tyler Loop made just one of his four attempts from 50 yards or longer. He also missed a 44-yarder against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 that would have sent the Ravens to the playoffs.