Panthers GM Dave Gettleman announced that the team has picked up Kelvin Benjamin‘s fifth-year option for 2018 (Twitter link via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer). The option is expected to be worth roughly $8MM. 
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Benjamin, now 26, was taken No. 28 overall by the Panthers in the 2014 draft. He got off to a great start by catching 73 passes for 1,008 yards with nine touchdowns in his rookie season. Unfortunately, a torn ACL suffered in August of 2015 cost him the entire season. He returned to last year and had 63 catches for 941 yards and seven scores. The Panthers’ decision to exercise his fifth-year option was pretty much a no-brainer.
The fifth-year option allows teams to retain first round picks for an additional season at their own discretion. Per the terms of the 2011 CBA, teams can trigger the option as early as January 2 in the year of the player’s fourth season. The deadline to make the call is May 3. The options are guaranteed for injury only.
For now, Benjamin is locked in for an additional season at a below-market rate. However, it’s a good bet that the two sides will discuss a long-term extension between now and when that fifth year kicks in.