The deadline for teams to pick up the fifth-year options for players passed earlier today at 3pm CT, meaning each NFL club needed to decide on the status of its former first-round picks by that time. 20 of 32 players had their options exercised, while 10 saw the options declined.
Of course, just because a player has his option exercised or declined, that doesn’t necessarily dictate his future earnings. These fifth-year options are only guaranteed for injury only for now, so assuming a player stays healthy, his team could still release him by March 2019 without being on the hook for any ’19 salary, even if his option was exercised today. Conversely, a player who had his option declined could have a bounce-back year and do well on the open market next March.
As we wait to see how the latest round of option decisions looks a year from now, let’s recap the action. Here’s a full breakdown of the fifth-year option decisions for 2019:
Exercised:
- Jameis Winston, QB, $20.922MM (Buccaneers): Exercised
- Marcus Mariota, QB, $20.922MM (Titans): Exercised
- Amari Cooper, WR, $13.924MM (Raiders): Exercised
- Brandon Scherff, G, $12.525MM (Redskins): Exercised
- Leonard Williams, DE, $14.2MM (Jets): Exercised
- Vic Beasley, DE, $14.2MM (Falcons): Exercised
- Todd Gurley, RB, $9.630MM (Rams): Exercised
- Trae Waynes, CB, $9.069MM (Vikings): Exercised
- Andrus Peat, G, $9.625MM (Saints): Exercised
- DeVante Parker, WR, $9.387MM (Dolphins): Exercised
- Melvin Gordon, RB, $5.605MM (Chargers): Exercised
- Kevin Johnson, CB, $9.069MM (Texans): Exercised
- Arik Armstead, DE, $9.046MM (49ers): Exercised
- Marcus Peters, CB, $9.069MM (Rams): Exercised
- Nelson Agholor, WR, $9.387MM (Eagles): Exercised
- Bud Dupree, LB, $9.232MM (Steelers): Exercised
- D.J. Humphries, T, $9.625MM (Cardinals): Exercised
- Shaq Thompson, LB, $9.232MM (Panthers): Exercised
- Byron Jones, DB, $6.260MM (Cowboys): Exercised
- Damarious Randall, DB, $9.069MM (Browns): Exercised
Declined:
- Dante Fowler, DE, $14.2MM (Jaguars): Declined
- Kevin White, WR, $13.924MM (Bears): Declined
- Ereck Flowers, T, $12.525MM (Giants): Declined
- Danny Shelton, DT, $7.154MM (Patriots): Declined
- Cameron Erving, OL, $9.625MM (Chiefs): Declined
- Cedric Ogbuehi, T, $9.625MM (Bengals): Declined
- Shane Ray, LB, $9.232MM (Broncos): Declined
- Breshad Perriman, WR, $9.387MM (Ravens): Declined
- Laken Tomlinson, G, $9.625MM (49ers): Declined
- Phillip Dorsett, WR, $9.387MM (Patriots): Declined
- Stephone Anthony, LB, $9.232MM (Dolphins): Declined
- Malcom Brown, DT, $7.154MM (Patriots): Declined