The Dallas Cowboys have placed a second-round tender on kicker Brandon Aubrey, offering $5.76 million, but Aubrey is open to exploring other NFL opportunities.
The Dallas Cowboys have placed a second-round tender on kicker Brandon Aubrey, according to reports.
ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported the move on Saturday, worth $5.76 million. The tender allows Aubrey to sign an offer sheet with another team that the Cowboys would have the right to match, per Schefter. If Dallas does not, they’d get back a second round pick from the team signing Aubrey.
Aubrey spoke to WFAA this week at a TOCA Social about the tender, which he called “not ideal.”
“Obviously, the [second round] tender is what the Cowboys have talked about. It’s a good amount of money,” Aubrey said. “It’s a big pay raise for me from before, but it’s not ideal for any player, so we’ll see what happens.”
When asked about testing the market, Aubrey said “when you hit that restricted free agency, if you’re not testing the market, then you’re not doing what’s right for you and your family.”
Aubrey came to the Cowboys after a pursing a career in Major League Soccer (he was drafted 21st overall by Toronto FC) and his wife convinced him that he should try kicking footballs instead of soccer balls. Aubrey got his American football start in the USL for the Birmingham Stallions before signing a contract with the Cowboys.
Since joining Dallas, Aubrey has cemented himself as one of – of not the best – leg in the league. He has more made field goals from 60-plus-yards than anyone in NFL history.
Despite being a North Texas native (from Plano), Aubrey said leaving his hometown team was not off the table if a better deal comes along.
“My home will always be home, and I’ll always come back here, but that’s not gonna keep me here necessarily,” he said.
Aubrey told WFAA his family would stay in North Texas if he changed teams.
The NFL free agency period begins on Monday.