FRISCO, Texas — The commencement of the 2025 NFL season is rapidly approaching, and for the Dallas Cowboys, their opportunity to finalize agreements before the 2025 season gets underway is on the horizon.
Back in 2023, the Cowboys secured a new agreement with standout wide receiver CeeDee Lamb promptly after the team’s return to Texas following training camp in Oxnard, California. In addition, they extended the contract of three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Dak Prescott merely hours prior to the Week 1 kickoff against the Cleveland Browns.
During the current offseason, they’ve extended the contract of Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson, executed a surprising trade involving All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, and this past Sunday renewed the agreement with 2023 All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland.
“We operate as an organization centered around drafting and nurturing talent. Our aim is to select players through the draft, develop their skills, and integrate them into the team. We have a notable and established track record in this area, predating my arrival, of successfully drafting and developing players. What’s appealing about this approach is that these individuals generally maintain their core characteristics,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer commented following Bland’s contract extension on Sunday. “Fergy remains the same relentless player he’s always been, with his unique brand of intensity. I appreciate being around him, and DaRon is unlikely to undergo any significant changes. When you’re able to draft players, cultivate their potential, and then secure them for a second contract, it’s a positive outcome for both the team and the players involved.”
Given the increased financial flexibility resulting from the Parsons trade, who should be the next player to receive an extension before the 2025 season commences? Should the team prioritize securing left guard Tyler Smith, kicker Brandon Aubrey, or perhaps newly acquired Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens? Let’s evaluate and rank the players whose contract extensions should be a priority for Dallas, and estimate the potential terms of their next deals if they were finalized prior to the start of the upcoming season. The player occupying the top spot has received Schottenheimer’s endorsement as the next deserving candidate for long-term financial security.
3. K Brandon Aubrey
- Current contract status: Entering the concluding year of his current contract in 2025, with a salary of $1.03 million
- Extension projection: 4 years, $27 million
From a sentimental point of view, numerous Cowboys followers may rank kicker Brandon Aubrey, a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler in his pair of NFL seasons, higher on the list. He redefined the NFL record books in his debut year in the league in 2023 by successfully converting his initial 35 field goal attempts consecutively. This achievement surpassed the previous record for most consecutive field goals made at the beginning of a career, and he ultimately concluded the season just three successful field goals short of matching the league’s all-time record for most consecutive field goals made (37 by former Indianapolis Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt in 2003). Aubrey concluded 2023 as the NFL’s leader in successful field goals, completing 36 of his 38 attempts, which earned him All-Pro recognition.
The 2024 season exhibited a higher degree of unpredictability, yet Aubrey’s accuracy from extended distances remained consistent. He executed 40 of his 47 field goal attempts overall, encompassing an NFL single-season record of 14 from 50 yards or beyond. That figure incorporated a 65-yard field goal Aubrey made in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, marking the longest field goal in Cowboys history and the second-longest made field goal in NFL history. He ultimately earned second-team All-Pro recognition for the 2024 season.
Aubrey’s status as an exceptional kicker is well-established, but his position at fifth on this list is attributed to the inherent value assigned to the kicker role. With respect to the potential terms of an Aubrey extension, it is likely to set a new benchmark for kickers’ compensation. Aubrey’s representation is handled by Todd France, also the agent for Prescott — the league’s highest-paid player based on average annual salary ($60 million). Currently, Kansas City Chiefs three-time Super Bowl champion kicker Harrison Butker holds the lead among kickers in terms of total contract value ($25.6 million) and average yearly compensation ($6.4 million), which leads to the assumption that an Aubrey extension will likely surpass Butker’s agreement in both financial categories.
2. WR George Pickens
- Current contract status: Entering final year of rookie deal in 2025 with a salary of $3.656 million
- Extension projection: 3 years, $58 million
Jerry Jones securing a new agreement with wide receiver George Pickens prior to the 2025 season commencing is probably the least probable of the three contracts to be finalized in this time frame. Jones only acquired Pickens through a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers in May, implying that he’s yet to see him in a regular-season game for Dallas.
Nevertheless, it is important to consider the possibility. Pickens joins from an offensive setup that struggled to establish any consistency at the quarterback position throughout the 24-year-old’s entire NFL career. The explosive deep threat will now have the opportunity to line up opposite an All-Pro in Lamb and receive passes from the 2023 NFL MVP runner-up. Despite being Pittsburgh’s clear-cut top receiving target amid a series of inconsistent performers in recent years, Pickens achieved an NFL-best average of 16.7 yards per reception over the previous two seasons, an accomplishment that tops all NFL players among 61 individuals with at least 110 receptions since 2023.
“Yeah. I mean, from the moment he arrived, he made it a simple transition. He’s a player who consistently gets open, presents a sizable target, displays diligence, and plays for the betterment of the team. Whether it involves run [blocking] or other aspects, he fulfills his role effectively,” Prescott observed of Pickens this past Sunday. “It’s been an uncomplicated process, and he continues to improve progressively. This is largely attributable to his personal qualities and his commitment to integrating into this offensive system. Whether it’s learning, seeking further knowledge, or requesting additional responsibilities due to his mastery, he has seamlessly adapted. We are incredibly enthusiastic about having another individual of his caliber on the field.”
He is anticipated to make substantial progress in 2025 within a more conducive passing environment, indicating that it would be prudent for Jones to secure Pickens’ long-term future now. If the Cowboys opt to take a proactive approach, they could potentially realize significant cost savings in the long run by securing Pickens’ services early. Based on his career statistics (174 receptions for 2,841 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns in three seasons) and his age (24), Jones could potentially extend Pickens’ contract to a three-year, $58 million agreement. This arrangement would surpass Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy’s three-year, $52.5 million extension he signed at the same age, and the duration of the deal would position Pickens for another contract negotiation during his prime years at 27.
1. LG Tyler Smith
- Current contract status: Entering second to last year of rookie deal in 2025 on a $2.530 million base salary
- Extension projection: 4 years, $95 million
Two-time Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith is positioned as the linchpin of the Cowboys offensive line following the retirements of Zack Martin and Tyron Smith during the offseason. Both of these future inductees into the Cowboys Ring of Honor have acknowledged Smith as a player who “will be remembered as one of the greats.” An ESPN survey of NFL coaches, scouts, and executives also recognized Smith as the league’s second-best interior offensive lineman. This viewpoint aligns with Schottenheimer’s support for Jones to secure Smith’s long-term commitment.
“I believe he possesses the qualities of an All-Pro guard. He’s an exceptionally gifted player, and his development has been nurtured through the draft process. He was initially drafted as a tackle from Tulsa, transitioned here, played tackle, and subsequently shifted to the guard position. His inherent power is remarkable,” Schottenheimer commented. “What I value most about Tyler is his unwavering dedication. He’s consistently one of our most diligent players in practice. He maintains a high level of consistency and doesn’t express any complaints. That’s a quality you admire in a competitor. He’s an exceptional talent, and we hope that he’s the next individual to secure a long-term agreement.”
Securing the 24-year-old’s long-term commitment will necessitate surpassing the benchmark recently established in the interior offensive lineman market by Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith, through his four-year, $94 million extension. Jones will likely need to slightly exceed that figure to re-sign Tyler Smith prior to Week 1.
