Cowboys to potentially lose All-Pro player to NFC contender

If the Cowboys offer one of these tenders, another team can still make an offer for the player. Dallas will have the right to match that offer. If the Cowboys choose not to match it, the team that signs the player must give up a draft pick based on the type of tender used. A first-round tender would require a first-round pick, a second-round tender would require a second-round pick, and a right-of-refusal tender would not result in any compensation.

CBS Sports' John Breech analyzed teams that might want to entice Aubrey away from Dallas if he becomes a free agent, believing the Los Angeles Rams could be one of those teams.

"Since taking over in 2017, Sean McVay has never had a true long-range kicker like Aubrey," Breech wrote. "In three years with the Cowboys, Aubrey has hit seven field goals from 59 yards or longer. The Rams have ZERO field goals of 59 yards or longer during McVay's nine seasons. In 2025, Los Angeles was one of three teams without a single field goal longer than 52 yards. As crazy as it sounds, four of the Rams' five regular-season losses might have gone differently in 2025 if Aubrey had been on the roster."

The immediate ripple effect of Dallas’ decision will center on leverage. If the Cowboys apply a first-round tender, they effectively eliminate realistic competition for Aubrey. A lower tender, however, introduces risk, especially for a specialist who has converted seven field goals from 59 yards or longer in just three seasons. Long-range reliability changes late-game strategy, influencing fourth-down decisions and end-of-half aggression.

From a broader roster-building standpoint, kickers are often undervalued until they aren’t. Dallas has struggled with consistency in multiple phases during back-to-back non-playoff seasons, but Aubrey has been a stabilizing force. Meanwhile, the Rams under McVay have lacked a true deep-range option. As CBS Sports noted, Los Angeles has not recorded a 59-yard field goal in McVay’s tenure, and several close losses in 2025 might have swung with elite kicking range. That contrast underscores Aubrey’s tangible value beyond standard field-goal percentage.

Looking ahead to the March 11 free agency window, Dallas must decide whether to prioritize cost control or certainty. In tight NFC races, three points often separate playoff teams from those watching at home. Securing Aubrey long-term, or at a minimum protecting him with the appropriate tender, may be one of the Cowboys’ most consequential offseason moves as they attempt to return to postseason contention in 2026.