Teams across the NFL have until May 3 to officially pick up their 2020 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 2021, after the conclusion of the 2020 season. If a player’s option is declined, he’ll be eligible to hit the open market a year earlier. Of course, if a 2016 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.
Soon, we’ll learn the official salary figures for all 2020 fifth-year options. What we do know is that the option salaries for top 10 picks is equal to the transition tender at the player’s position during his fourth season. So, because the transition tag for quarterbacks this year was $22.783MM, we already know that Jared Goff and Carson Wentz‘s fifth-year option will be worth that amount.
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:
- Jared Goff, QB, $22.783MM (Rams): Exercised
- Carson Wentz, QB, $22.783MM (Eagles): Exercised
- Joey Bosa, DE, $14.360MM (Chargers): Exercised
- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, $9.099MM (Cowboys): Exercised
- Jalen Ramsey, CB, $13.703MM (Jaguars): Exercised
- Ronnie Stanley, T, $12.866MM (Ravens): Exercised
- DeForest Buckner, DT, $12.378MM (49ers): Exercised
- Jack Conklin, T, $12.866MM (Titans): Declined
- Leonard Floyd, LB, $13.222MM (Bears): Exercised
- Eli Apple, CB, $13.703MM (Saints): Declined
- Vernon Hargreaves, CB, $9.954MM (Buccaneers): Exercised
- Sheldon Rankins, DT, $7.690MM (Saints): Exercised
- Laremy Tunsil, T, $10.350MM (Dolphins): Exercised
- Karl Joseph, S, $6.466MM (Raiders): Declined
- Corey Coleman, WR, $10.162MM (Giants): Not applicable due to release
- Taylor Decker, T, $10.350MM (Lions): Exercised
- Keanu Neal, S, $6.466MM (Falcons): Exercised
- Ryan Kelly, C, $10.350MM (Colts): Exercised
- Shaq Lawson, DE, $9.451MM (Bills): Declined
- Darron Lee, LB, $9.501MM (Jets): Declined
- Will Fuller, WR, $10.162MM (Texans): Exercised
- Josh Doctson, WR, $10.162MM (Redskins): Declined
- Laquon Treadwell, WR, $10.162MM (Vikings): Declined
- William Jackson, CB, $9.954MM (Bengals): Exercised
- Artie Burns, CB, $9.954MM (Steelers): Declined
- Paxton Lynch, QB, $15.693MM (Seahawks): Not applicable due to release
- Kenny Clark, DT, $7.690MM (Packers): Exercised
- Joshua Garnett, G, $10.350MM (49ers): Declined
- Patriots forfeited pick as result of Deflategate scandal
- Robert Nkemdiche, DT, $7.690MM (Cardinals): Declined
- Vernon Butler, DT, $7.690MM (Panthers): Declined
- Germain Ifedi, T, $10.350MM (Seahawks): Declined
Pats exercised 29 by announcing Kraftgate
Handy gate
Browns had a heck of a draft!!
Trading back from Wentz, then again from Zeke.. to finally get their man Coleman, while stocking up on picks
Lol the Browns just need to forget the past and be happy with what they have now.
Only 6 out of 31 1st round picks have or will have them exercised w/ 2 weeks to go. Yeah, scouts and mock drafts are full of baloney. Who’s this year’s ‘can’t miss players’?
Thats only because teams are just waiting to announce it. You really think guys at the top like Goff, Wentz and Bosa are borderline decisions. Pretty much everyone in the first half will be picked up. Sure the bottom of that round has some ugly names but overall more than half will the nod
Wentz has missed considerable time the last 2 seasons and Goff was pretty much figured & shut out in the SB. Bosa is good.
My point is you’re better off trading back and just taking a ton of players rather than a ‘blue chipper’. Elliott, Ramsey, and Bosa are the only real standouts.
It’ll be interesting to see what percent do get the extra year option.
Goff and Wentz are by far the 2nd/3rd best QB drafted in the past 6 years only behind Mahomes. The teams that traded up to get him were well rewarded for it. Not trading up to the top gets you Paxton Lynch.
A lot more than 3 QB’s have been drafted in the top 10, let alone the 1st round, over the past 6 years.
Bottles is the only QB drafted in the past 6 drafts in the top 10 that most would consider a failure. Those teams that traded up were rewarded and many quite handsomely. Recent history shows that trading up works and Kenleyfornia2’s statement above is accurate.
Only Bortles is bad? Ever hear of Marcus M or J Winston? None of the top 3 QB’s from last year had winning seasons and #10 has already been traded, Rosen.
Isn’t the fifth year option guaranteed for injury only?
Artie Burns should be a lock to have his declined.