The unconventional journey to the NFL leaves Aubrey financially disadvantaged. In three years, he’s made less than $3 million total ($2.695 million, per Over The Cap).

The kicker won’t hit the open market unfettered either. As a restricted free agent, the Cowboys can place a tender on the kicker to ensure they get something in return if Aubrey were to sign with another team. A second-round tender would pay the kicker $5.8 million. The Cowboys would receive a second-round pick if another team signed Aubrey to a contract and Dallas declined to match it.

The second-round tender figure alone would make Aubrey the third-highest-paid kicker in the NFL behind Super Bowl winners Harrison Butker ($6.4 million) and Jake Elliott ($6 million).

Given that Aubrey has become a massive weapon, putting the Cowboys in potential scoring range the moment they hit midfield, it seems a fait accompli that he’ll become the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. The question is how much beyond Butker he’ll fly.

“We’ve been in talks with Aubrey even before the season started,” Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones told reporters last week. “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.”