Yesterday, the league informed teams of the 2025 salary cap ceiling ($279.2MM). Now, clarity has emerged regarding the fifth-year options for members of the 2022 draft class. 
All teams will need to decide by May 2 to pick up or decline the 2026 option on players selected in the first round of that year. For the fifth year in a row, option values will be broken into tiers based on playing time and performance. Since the 2020 CBA, option years have been guaranteed in full.
The top tier consists of players who have been selected to two or more Pro Bowls (on the initial ballot) during the early stages of their careers. These figures also match the 2025 franchise tag values. Via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, here is the position-by-position breakdown at that level:
- Quarterback: $40.24MM
- Running back: $13.64MM
- Wide receiver: $23.96MM
- Tight end: $13.83MM
- Offensive line: $20.99MM
- Defensive end: $23.4MM
- Defensive tackle: $25.12MM
- Linebacker: $25.45MM
- Cornerback: $20.19MM
- Safety: $18.6MM
- Kicker/punter: $6.31MM
The second tier applies to players who have one Pro Bowl on their resume and matches the value of 2025 transition tags. Here is how that groups shakes out financially:
- Quarterback: $35.38MM
- Running back: $11.07MM
- Wide receiver: $21.44MM
- Tight end: $11.71MM
- Offensive line: $21.27MM
- Defensive end: $19.87MM
- Defensive tackle: $20.85MM
- Linebacker: $20.86MM
- Cornerback: $17.6MM
- Safety: $15.03MM
- Kicker/punter: $5.73MM
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 campaigns. Those positions are broken down as such:
- Quarterback: $25.38MM
- Running back: $7.33MM
- Wide receiver: $16.82MM
- Tight end: $8.5MM
- Offensive line: $17.56MM
- Defensive end: $15.12MM
- Defensive tackle: $14.37MM
- Linebacker: $14.75MM
- Cornerback: $13.63MM
- Safety: $10.23MM
- Kicker/punter: $4.6MM
The fourth and final tier applies to players without a Pro Bowl nod and who do not meet the playing time criteria:
- Quarterback: $22.12MM
- Running back: $6.58MM
- Wide receiver: $15.49MM
- Tight end: $7.71MM
- Offensive line: $16.69MM
- Defensive end: $13.92MM
- Defensive tackle: $12.94MM
- Linebacker: $13.41MM
- Cornerback: $12.68MM
- Safety: $9.27MM
- Kicker/punter: $4.29MM
amazing how low RBs are thought of/paid.
Yep, only the kicker makes less than the RB who runs, catches and blocks. Nice to see Barkley and Henry put the spotlight back on the position.