Teams across the NFL have until May 3 to officially pick up their 2018 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.
If a player has his option exercised, his rookie contract will be extended by one year and he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2019, after the conclusion of the 2018 season. If a player’s option is declined, he’ll be eligible to hit the open market a year earlier. Of course, if a 2014 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, so you can read up on the specific details there.
Joel Corry of CBSSports.com has passed along the official salary figures for all 2017 fifth-year options, adding his thoughts on where each 2013 first-rounder stands. These option salaries are guaranteed for injury only up until the first day of the ’18 league year, at which point they become fully guaranteed. As such, some teams may exercise the options now, even if they’re not 100% sure they’ll keep the player.
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. Here are this season’s fifth-year option decisions so far:
- Jadeveon Clowney, DE, $13.846MM (Texans): Exercised
- Greg Robinson, OL (Rams), $12.496MM: Declined
- Blake Bortles, QB, (Jaguars), $19.053MM: Exercised
- Sammy Watkins, WR (Bills), $13.258MM: Declined
- Khalil Mack, DE (Raiders), $13.846MM: Exercised
- Jake Matthews, T (Falcons), $12.496MM: Exercised
- Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers), $13.258MM: Exercised
- Justin Gilbert, CB (Browns): Not applicable due to release
- Anthony Barr, LB (Vikings), $12.306MM: Exercised
- Eric Ebron, TE (Lions), $5.194MM: Exercised
- Taylor Lewan, T (Titans), $9.341MM: Exercised
- Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), $8.459MM: Exercised
- Aaron Donald, DT (Rams), $6.892MM: Exercised
- Kyle Fuller, CB, (Bears), $8.526MM: Declined
- Ryan Shazier, LB (Steelers), $8.718MM: Exercised
- Zack Martin, G (Cowboys), $9.341MM: Exercised
- C.J. Mosley, LB (Ravens), $8.718MM: Exercised
- Calvin Pryor, S (Jets), $5.597MM: Declined
- Ja’Wuan James, T (Dolphins), $9.341MM: Exercised
- Brandin Cooks, WR (Patriots), $8.459MM: Exercised
- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S (Packers), $5.597MM: Exercised
- Johnny Manziel, QB (Browns): Not applicable due to release
- Dee Ford, LB (Chiefs), $8.718MM: Exercised
- Darqueze Dennard, CB (Bengals), $8.526MM: Exercised
- Jason Verrett, CB (Chargers), $8.526MM: Exercised
- Marcus Smith, DE (Eagles), $8.625MM: Declined
- Deone Bucannon, LB (Cardinals), $8.718MM: Exercised
- Kelvin Benjamin, WR (Panthers), $8.459MM: Exercised
- Dominique Easley, DT (Rams): Not applicable due to release
- Jimmie Ward, CB (49ers), $8.526MM: Exercised
- Bradley Roby, CB (Broncos), $8.526MM: Exercised
- Teddy Bridgewater, QB (Vikings), $12.198MM: Declined
Just looking at this list makes me realize just how much of a crapshoot the draft is. So many busts listed above, and right now people are hyping up the players in this weeks draft while many of them will not pan out as well.
bingo!!! but don’t worry 2 years from now those same people will act like they knew who was going to make it and who wasn’t.
Sad thing is, this draft was one of the better in recent years. A couple All Pro linebackers and a stud receiver in Evans.