FRISCO, Texas -- The Cowboys have officially placed a second-round, $5.76 million tender on kicker Brandon Aubrey and offensive lineman T.J. Bass.
Aubrey and Bass are both restricted free agents for the Cowboys, meaning they've accrued three seasons and have an expiring contract. They're still free to negotiate with external teams in free agency, but Dallas will have the right to match any deal they agree to. Should the Cowboys decide not to match, the new team that Aubrey or Bass will join sends Dallas a second-round pick.
Aubrey has been one of the more high-profile free agents of the offseason for the Cowboys. The team began contract talks with Aubrey's representation before the season, but still have yet to come to agreement, with COO/co-owner Stephen Jones calling the process "a journey."
Nonetheless, Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones said at the NFL Combine that the Cowboys have an offer in front of Aubrey to make him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history.
"I think he's outstanding," Jones said. "Love his story, love the fact that the story is with the Cowboys. We feel good that what we are talking about is an appreciation of what he can do for us. That's a way of, not trying to negotiate with anything I might say here, but we've got a good offer on the table for him."
The usage of a second-round tender on Bass speaks to the value the Cowboys see in him. Throughout his three seasons in Dallas, Bass has been as reliable a backup option at guard as anybody. Over the course of the last year, Dallas has even had him take some snaps at center.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer made it clear in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine that he "absolutely" wanted Bass, along with fellow offensive lineman and restricted free agent Brock Hoffman, to be back in Dallas in 2026.
"Both of those guys are studs," Schottenheimer said. "They're glue pieces for us. They're always prepared, they're ready. Both of those guys could start for other teams in the league, we're just very, very talented like I just talked about. Both of those guys coming back would be big for us."
