HEADLINES

2016 Fifth-Year Option Decision Tracker

April 9th, 2015 at 10:47am CST by Luke Adams

Teams across the NFL have until May 3 to officially pick up their 2016 options on players who are entering the final year of their rookie contracts. These fifth-year options can only be exercised on first-round picks, and the salaries are determined by where players were drafted and what position they play. Joel Corry of CBSSports.com has passed along the official salary figures for all 2016 fifth-year options, adding his thoughts on where each 2012 first-rounder stands.

If a player has his option exercised, his rookie contract will be extended by one year and he’ll be eligible for free agency after the 2016 season. If a player’s option is declined, he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2015 season. Of course, if a 2012 first-rounder is no longer on his rookie contract, there will be no option to exercise or decline. We explained the intricacies of the fifth-year option in a PFR Glossary post last year, so you can read up on the specific details there.

These 2016 option salaries are guaranteed for injury only up until the first day of the 2016 league year, at which point they become fully guaranteed. As such, many teams figure to exercise the options for now, even if they’re not 100% sure they’ll keep the player — there isn’t a ton of risk in picking up the option and maintaining as much roster flexibility as possible. Teams and players can also continue to negotiate long-term contracts from this point on.

With next month’s deadline looming, we’ll use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league based on various reports and official announcements. This post can be found anytime on the right-hand sidebar in the “PFR Features” section. Here are this season’s fifth-year option decisions so far:

  1. Andrew Luck (QB, Colts), $16.155MM: Exercised
  2. Robert Griffin III (QB, Washington), $16.155MM: Exercised
  3. Trent Richardson (RB, Raiders): Not applicable due to release
  4. Matt Kalil (T, Vikings), $11.096MM: Exercised
  5. Justin Blackmon (WR, Jaguars): Not applicable due to suspension (as Corry explains in his aforementioned piece)
  6. Morris Claiborne (CB, Cowboys), $11.082MM: Declined
  7. Mark Barron (S, Rams), $8.263MM: Declined
  8. Ryan Tannehill (QB, Dolphins), $16.155MM: Exercised
  9. Luke Kuechly (LB, Panthers), $11.058MM: Exercised
  10. Stephon Gilmore (CB, Bills), $11.082MM: Exercised
  11. Dontari Poe (DT, Chiefs), $6.146MM: Exercised
  12. Fletcher Cox (DE, Eagles), $7.799MM: Exercised
  13. Michael Floyd (WR, Cardinals), $7.32MM: Exercised
  14. Michael Brockers (DT, Rams), $6.146MM: Will be exercised
  15. Bruce Irvin (OLB, Seahawks), $7.751MM: Will be declined
  16. Quinton Coples (OLB, Jets), $7.751MM: Exercised
  17. Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Bengals), $7.507MM: Exercised
  18. Melvin Ingram (OLB, Chargers), $7.751MM: Exercised
  19. Shea McClellin (OLB, Bears), $7.751MM: Declined
  20. Kendall Wright (WR, Titans), $7.32MM: Exercised
  21. Chandler Jones (DE, Patriots), $7.799MM: Exercised
  22. Brandon Weeden (QB, Cowboys): Not applicable due to release
  23. Riley Reiff (T, Lions), $8.07MM: Will be exercised
  24. David DeCastro (G, Steelers), $8.07MM: Exercised
  25. Dont’a Hightower (LB, Patriots), $7.751MM: Exercised
  26. Whitney Mercilus (OLB, Texans), $7.751MM
  27. Kevin Zeitler (G, Bengals), $8.07MM: Exercised
  28. Nick Perry (OLB, Packers), $7.751MM: Not expected to be exercised
  29. Harrison Smith (S, Vikings), $5.278MM: Exercised
  30. A.J. Jenkins (WR): Not applicable due to release
  31. Doug Martin (RB, Buccaneers), $5.621MM: Declined
  32. David Wilson (RB): Not applicable due to retirement
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