Highest-paid kickers in NFL: How Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey reset the market with new contract in 2026

Previously, Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was the NFL's highest-paid kicker at $6.5 million per year. Fairbairn inked a two-year, $13 million contract extension with Houston in 2026, resetting the kicker market ever so briefly.

Aubrey, who was a restricted free agent in 2026, was expected to reset the market for kickers after another terrific season in Dallas. He officially did so, clearing the $7 million AAV mark in the process.

The former soccer standout has made 88.2 percent of field goal attempts in his three NFL seasons, though that mark might be skewed by the fact the Cowboys frequently use him from long range. Aubrey is 35-for-44 from at least 50 yards in his three seasons. From inside 50 yards, he was a perfect 25-for-25 in 2025.

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Highest-paid kickers in NFL

Here are the 10 highest-paid kickers in the NFL by average annual salary:

Ten kickers make at least $5 million annually, but only three are above the $6 million range: Aubrey, Fairbairn, Harrison Butker.

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Factors that determine NFL kicker salaries

Like any position, a kicker is going to make more money if a team believes he is not easily replaceable.

Kicker salaries tend to be lower than just about every other position group in part because the players tend to be replaceable. While some kickers have become weapons in today's NFL, the growing supply of capable kickers means most have a short leash and can be replaced at any time. To that point, two of the NFL's highest-paid kickers — Butker and Cameron Dicker — started out with their current teams as unheralded midseason replacements.

The right kicker can be a weapon, though. Aubrey's range begins roughly near midfield, which is equivalent to the NFL record of a 68-yard field goal. That kind of range will surely land him a sizable contract. Butker and Elliott, meanwhile, have made clutch kicks on the biggest stage, each winning a Super Bowl.

Field goal percentage and range from more than 50 yards out are still the defining factors of a kicker's value, but success in high-pressure moments or the ability to go beyond typical field goal range separates select kickers from the rest.

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Highest-paid player by position

Kicker salaries still pale in comparison to non-special team position groups. Here is a look at the highest-paid player by position:

Quarterbacks represent the 10 highest-paid players in the NFL by average annual value, but the highest-paid non-quarterback is not a wide receiver. It's instead Texans pass-rusher Will Anderson, who is making $50 million per year on his newest extension.

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