The Most Important Player the Cowboys Need to Re-Sign This Offseason
The 2025 NFL offseason promises to be an exciting period for the Dallas Cowboys. In the NFL Draft in April, the Cowboys will have the opportunity to select twice in the first round, a situation they have not encountered since 2008. Free agency is another area where the team is expected to focus its efforts. Typically, the Cowboys prioritize re-signing their own players rather than aggressively pursuing options on the open market, as this strategy allows them to maximize their investments. This free agency class includes several notable players such as George Pickens and Javonte Williams, who were elite offensive contributors this season. However, All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey is arguably the most important player for the Cowboys to retain.
Aubrey, whom the Cowboys signed after his stint in the XFL with the Birmingham Stallions in 2023, is set to become a free agent following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season. Three All-Pro selections and three Pro Bowl appearances later, Aubrey has established himself as arguably the best kicker in the league and one of the most outstanding kickers in the league’s history. With Aubrey on the roster, the Cowboys can confidently expect points once they cross midfield. In 2025, Aubrey delivered another Pro Bowl-caliber season, converting 85.7 percent of his field goal attempts, recording two game-winning kicks, and totaling 155 points, which ranked third in the NFL.
Before Aubrey’s arrival, the Cowboys struggled to find consistency at the kicker position since Dan Bailey, one of the most accurate kickers in league history before lingering back issues derailed his career. The team cycled through multiple kickers and endured notable miscues, including Brett Maher missing five consecutive extra points in the 2022 playoffs. Given Aubrey’s accomplishments in a relatively short NFL career, re-signing him should be an obvious priority for the Cowboys’ front office. Contract discussions between Aubrey and the team began last season, though no agreement was reached. Aubrey is expected to receive a second-round tender valued at approximately six million dollars. Given his elite leg strength and consistent production in critical moments, Aubrey is arguably the most crucial player the Cowboys need to retain this offseason.
