INDIANAPOLIS — George Pickens and the franchise tag is certainly the prevailing headline for the Dallas Cowboys from the 2026 NFL Combine, but it's not the only one. Another also involves contract negotiations, but with All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey, who is also set to hit free agency — should the Cowboys allow it.
The thing is, they won't, because Aubrey is a restricted free agent (Pickens is unrestricted) and, as the two sides will continue negotiations heading into the beginning of March. Speaking from the NFL Combine, head coach Brian Schottenheimer had an exclusive Q&A with DallasCowboys.com that touched on the temperature of those talks.
"When you build the right culture here, the players want to stay," he said of Aubrey. "Players want to be here. And so, as the negotiation and the business side of it happens, the good thing for me, and the good thing for us — the Cowboys Organization — is knowing that Brandon doesn't want to go anywhere."
The feeling is mutual from the team's standpoint.
When Stephen Jones spoke from the very same NFL Combine a few days prior, he made it clear talks are well underway, and have been for a while now, but the work continues because Dallas wants what is arguably the league's best kicker to stick around for the long haul.
"We've been in talks with Aubrey even before the season started," said the Cowboys' executive vice president and director of player personnel. "It's been a journey, but we haven't been able to get to a point where we can all agree. Haven't gotten done, but we'd love to get him done."
The absence of a deal will likely lead to the Cowboys placing a tender on Aubrey, all signs pointing toward one of the second-round variety. That would mean any team can make an offer to Aubrey, but the Cowboys have the right to match it. If they choose not to, the team acquiring him would owe Dallas a second-round pick as compensation for the loss.
As it stands, Schottenheimer is confident it'll all be worked out, but admits more time is needed.
"He wants to be here," he said. "We want Brandon here, and now we've just got to have the time to figure out the numbers and how that works."
