NFL teams have until May 1 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2022 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th-highest salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
We covered how last year’s Pro Bowl invites affected the 2022 first-round class. With the deadline looming, we will use the space below to track all the 2026 option decisions from around the league:
- DE/OLB Travon Walker, Jaguars ($14.75MM): Exercised
- DE/OLB Aidan Hutchinson, Lions ($19.87MM): Exercised
- CB Derek Stingley Jr., Texans ($17.6MM): Extended through 2029
- CB Sauce Gardner, Jets ($20.19MM): Exercised
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants ($14.75MM): Exercised
- T Ikem Ekwonu, Panthers ($17.56MM)
- T Evan Neal, Giants ($16.69MM)
- WR Drake London, Falcons ($16.82MM)
- T Charles Cross, Seahawks ($17.56MM)
- WR Garrett Wilson, Jets ($16.82MM)
- WR Chris Olave, Saints ($15.49MM): Exercised
- WR Jameson Williams, Lions ($15.49MM): Exercised
- DT Jordan Davis, Eagles ($12.94MM)
- S Kyle Hamilton, Ravens ($18.6MM)
- G Kenyon Green, Eagles* ($16.69MM)
- WR Jahan Dotson, Eagles** ($16.82MM): Declined
- G Zion Johnson, Chargers ($17.56MM)
- WR Treylon Burks, Titans ($15.49MM)
- T Trevor Penning, Saints ($16.69MM): Declined
- QB Kenny Pickett, Browns*** ($22.12MM)
- CB Trent McDuffie, Chiefs ($17.6MM)
- LB Quay Walker, Packers ($14.75MM): Likely to be declined
- CB Kaiir Elam, Cowboys**** ($12.68MM)
- G Tyler Smith, Cowboys ($20.99MM): Exercised
- C Tyler Linderbaum, Ravens ($20.99MM)
- DE Jermaine Johnson, Jets ($13.92MM): Exercised
- LB Devin Lloyd, Jaguars ($14.75MM)
- DT Devonte Wyatt, Packers ($12.94MM)
- G Cole Strange, Patriots ($16.69MM)
- DE George Karlaftis, Chiefs ($15.12MM)
- DB Dax Hill, Bengals ($9.27MM)
- S Lewis Cine, Vikings: N/A
* = traded from Texans on March 11, 2025
** = traded from Commanders on August 22, 2024
*** = traded from Eagles on March 15, 2024; traded from Steelers on March 10, 2025
**** = traded from Bills to Cowboys on March 12, 2025
The Jets picked up the 5th-year option on Garrett Wilson along with Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson.
Also, Kenny Pickett was traded from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia (not the other way around) and then to Cleveland.
Interesting that only the ViQueens had drafted player on which no decision was necessary to be made because he was no longer with the team. Already he has been with FOUR different organizations; must be some issue.