Friday’s salary cap reveal ($255.4MM) both cements the franchise tag tender amounts and sets the fifth-year option prices for the 2021 first-round class. The record-setting spike represents good news for the latter contingent.
This will be the fourth offseason for the tiered fifth-year option format. The NFL’s 2020 CBA changed the option structure for first-round picks, fully guaranteeing the options but doing so based on performance and usage rate. The 2011 CBA gave teams flexibility by making the options guaranteed for injury only, allowing franchises to cut players free of charge as long as they passed March physicals. The 2018, ’19, ’20 and ’21 draft classes have now gained access to fully guaranteed options.
Players who have been original invitees to two or more Pro Bowls (original ballot only) reside on the top tier. Micah Parsons, Patrick Surtain and Ja’Marr Chase check in here. Matching the 2024 franchise tag prices, here is how those numbers will look in 2024 (courtesy of NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero):
- Quarterback: $38.3MM
- Running back: $11.95MM
- Wide receiver: $21.82MM
- Tight end: $12.69MM
- Offensive line: $20.99MM
- Defensive end: $21.32MM
- Defensive tackle: $22.1MM
- Linebacker: $24MM
- Cornerback: $19.8MM
- Safety: $17.12MM
- Kicker/punter: $5.98MM
Tier 2 on the option structure covers players who have been selected to one Pro Bowl as non-alternates. Penei Sewell, Rashawn Slater and Kyle Pitts‘ option prices come in here. This tier matches the 2024 transition tag values.
- Quarterback: $34.37MM
- Running back: $9.77MM
- Wide receiver: $19.77MM
- Tight end: $10.88MM
- Offensive line: $19MM
- Defensive end: $19.1MM
- Defensive tackle: $18.49MM
- Linebacker: $19.97MM
- Cornerback: $17.22MM
- Safety: $13.82MM
- Kicker/punter: $5.43MM
Participation impacts the final two tiers. Players who achieve any of the following will get the average of the third-20th highest salaries at their position. Tier 3 consists of players who played at least 75% in two of their first three seasons, those who averaged at least a 75% snap share through three seasons or those who crossed the 50% snap barrier in each of their initial three slates. Trevor Lawrence, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Christian Darrisaw are among the players whose options will come in on Tier 3.
- Quarterback: $25.66MM
- Running back: $6.79MM
- Wide receiver: $15.59MM
- Tight end: $7.96MM
- Offensive line: $16.04MM
- Defensive end: $14.58MM
- Defensive tackle: $13.1MM
- Linebacker: $14.48MM
- Cornerback: $13.38MM
- Safety: $9.51MM
- Kicker/punter: $4.39MM
The fourth and final tier consists of players who failed to reach those participation rates:
- Quarterback: $22.41MM
- Running back: $6.14MM
- Wide receiver: $14.35MM
- Tight end: $7.21MM
- Offensive line: $13.31MM
- Defensive end: $13.39MM
- Defensive tackle: $11.75MM
- Linebacker: $13.25MM
- Cornerback: $12.47MM
- Safety: $8.65MM
- Kicker/punter: $4.1MM
Mac Jones Pro Bowl 2022 so he would make 25.6m if signed to 5th year?
Negative, he’d make 34M
He was an alternate, not an original ballot selection, so it wouldn’t count here.
All offensive linemen being lumped together for the fifth year option makes it even less of a value to take an interior lineman in the first round.
I don’t think teams in need have any good alternatives but to swallow that pill. Most OL available in the free agent market are antiques that have health issues or guys that could rarely provide any kind of consistency.
Sure, but most good interior linemen are found after the first round, and those aren’t really the positions where you’re hunting for stars as much.
If AVT can stay healthy, he’s worth the option. Granted he can play tackle, but his primary position is guard.
I stand by my original point while also agreeing with you (and as a Jets fan, I always wonder if it wouldn’t be better to just try him full time at right tackle instead of falling into it).
Wondering if Justin Fields hits that 75% kicker to get into Tier 3. Could impact his trade value.
I’m pretty sure he’s played at least 50% of the snaps in each of his 3 years, so he would be in the 3rd tier.