Busy time for NFL teams and the players they chose in the first round of the 2017 draft. Rookie contracts for NFL draftees are four years long. Contracts for players picked in the first round, however, carry a team option for a fifth year and if a team wishes to use it, the option must be exercised by May 4.
32. Ryan Ramczyk
The Saints picked up the option on offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk in March. Ramczyk, taken from Wisconsin, has earned recognition on the All-Pro list in both 2018 (on the second team) and 2019 (on the first team).
31. Reuben Foster
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Washington declined the fifth-year option of Reuben Foster. The linebacker from Alabama has yet to play for Washington, which signed him in November of 2018 immediately after he was cut by the 49ers. Foster appeared in 16 games for San Francisco before being released following a series of off-field incidents. He was placed on the Reserve/Commissioner Exempt List and then claimed off waivers by Washington.
30. T.J. Watt
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up the fifth-year option on T.J. Watt. The decision was an absolute no-brainer as the linebacker is a star and has 34.5 sacks in his three seasons in the Steel City.
29. David Njoku
The Browns picked up the fifth-year option their tight end, David Njoku. He is set to make a base salary of $1,763,910 in 2020, and now he’s scheduled to earn about $6 million in the fifth year of his deal in 2021.
28. Taco Charlton
Taco Charlton is long gone from Dallas. And now he has been banished by the Miami Dolphins. The defensive lineman was cut this week by the Fish and soon after picked up by the Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Charlton played two seasons with Dallas, where he started seven games and had four sacks. He was waived last season and claimed by the Dolphins, and started five games and had five sacks.
27. Tre’Davious White
The Bills exercised the fifth-year option on Tre’Davious White, one of the stars of their defense. “Any guy that’s been in Tre’s situation we want back and obviously Tre’ is a guy we love and we want back,” GM Brandon Beane said in March.
26. Takkarist McKinley
One of the sweeter situations on draft night was Takkarist McKinley’s emotional reaction to being selected by the Falcons. It has not panned out as the Atlanta Falcons have decided to pass up the fifth-year option. McKinley has played in 45 games during his three-year career with the Falcons and recorded 71 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss and 16.5 sacks. “We have decided to not move forward with a fifth-year option for Takk and at this time are taking a wait-and-see approach in terms of future contracts. Takk has shown the ability to produce at a high level and we look forward to his production in 2020,” the team said in a statement.
25. Jabrill Peppers
The Giants did not draft Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers (pictured, No. 21), who was selected by the Cleveland Browns. He landed with Big Blue as part of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. New York has decided to pick up the fifth-year option on the SS/LB. Peppers’ 2021 salary will be determined whether he is considered a safety or a linebacker. The safety price is approximately $7 million, while the linebacker figure is about approximately $10.089 million.
24. Garon Conley
The Texans will not pick up the option on DB Gareon Conley, who originally was drafted by the Raiders. The Raiders traded Conley to the Texans last October. He played eight games with six starts for Houston, making 27 tackles and 11 pass breakups.
23. Evan Engram
The New York Giants picked up the fifth-year option on tight end Evan Engram. The former Mississippi star will earn close to $7 million in 2021 as Big Blue hopes he can stay healthy. Engram has yet to play all 16 games in a season.
22. Charles Harris
The Miami Dolphins dealt LB Charles Harris to the Atlanta Falcons for a seventh-round pick on May 1. That makes two first-round picks from 2017 Miami has rid itself of recently. Taco Charlton, who came over from Dallas, has been waived.
21. Jarrad Davis
The Detroit Lions need to see more from Jarrad Davis, a linebacker from Florida. He has 10 sacks in his first three seasons and inconsistent play. That has led to Detroit declining his option.
20. Garett Boles
The Broncos declined Bolles’ option on May 1. The tackle from Utah has started every game of the past three seasons. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2020 season. The fifth-year option would have been for just over $11 million guaranteed.
19. O.J. Howard
Former Alabama tight end O.J. Howard has gotten good news this offseason in multiple places. First, he will catch passes from Tom Brady and get to work with Rob Gronkowski at TE. And, the Bucs have picked up his fifth-year option. This is the fourth year in a row in which Tampa Bay has picked up that option on the relevant first-rounder, having done so with wide receiver Mike Evans in 2017, quarterback Jameis Winston in 2019 and cornerback Vernon Hargreaves last year. Hargreaves was waived last season and ended up with the Houston Texans. Howard has played in 38 games with 36 starts, catching 94 passes for 1,456 yards and 12 touchdowns.
18. Adoree’ Jackson
The former USC star Adoree’ Jackson had his option picked up by the Tennessee Titans. Jackson has started 39 games in three seasons.
17. Jonathan Allen
Washington picked up Allen’s option in late April. The former Alabama star has started all 36 games in which he has appeared. He has registered 139 tackles (84 solo), including 18 for loss, and has compiled 15.0 sacks.
16. Marlon Humphrey
The Baltimore Ravens picked up the option on DB Marlon Humphrey in late April. He has seven interceptions in 46 games, 28 starts.
15. Malik Hooker
The Colts are still debating whether to pick up the option on former Ohio State DB Malik Hooker. He has seven interceptions in three years but has missed 14 games, starting 33 of the 34 he played.
14. Derek Barnett
The Eagles picked up the option on DE Derek Barnett at the end of April. The DE has 14 sacks in three years but has only made 20 starts.
13. Haason Reddick
The Cardinals are in no apparent rush to make a decision on Haason Reddick, the linebacker from Temple. They have to make the call by Monday morning. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph might have provided an inkling when discussing 2020 first-rounder, Isaiah Simmons. “He (Simmons) is a guy who can stand up and rush on the edge as an outside backer, he can obviously cover tight ends and he can walk over the slot as a nickel-type player. When they’re counting the box and we’ve got Haason Reddick out there, we’ve got Isaiah out there, we’ve got (De’Vondre) Campbell, we’ve got Jordan (Hicks), we’ve got Chandler (Jones) and we’ve got Jordan Phillips, they have to declare who’s the fourth down (man) going to be.
12. Deshaun Watson
The Texans picked up the former Clemson QB’s contract and he will make a base salary of $1.17 million in 2020, but, entering the 2021 campaign, that number will increase to roughly $17.3MM.
11. Marshon Lattimore
New Orleans has picked up the option on DB Marshon Lattimore, who played college ball at Ohio State. Lattimore, the 11th overall pick out of Ohio State back in 2017, has been voted into two Pro Bowl appearances in his first three years. He was also selected as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
10. Patrick Mahomes
Option picked up by Kansas City and a massive, long-term deal will definitely be in the works and locked up sooner than later.
9. John Ross
Hard to imagine why the Bengals have not acted on the wide receiver from Washington. He has been injured and a disappointment and it would seem to be an easy thanks, but no thanks.
8. Christian McCaffrey
The Panthers have already locked up their star running back from Stanford for the long run in what was one of the easiest decisions they will make.
7. Mike Williams
The wide receiver from Clemson, Mike Williams had his option picked up April 30. Williams is blossoming into a top pass-catcher and has shown the ability to make the acrobatic look easy.
6. Jamal Adams
The Jets picked up the option on safety Jamal Adams in late April. The question is whether the opinionated Adams will be around in the long term. His name is always bandied about in trade discussions, usually with Dallas.
5. Corey Davis
The wide receiver from Western Michigan is going to have his option declined by the Titans. Another of the top five in 2017 proven to be a disappointment.
4. Leonard Fournette
Controversy and the circus in Jacksonville continue the Jaguars declined the option on running back Leonard Fournette. The RB from LSU is constantly in trade rumors and trading barbs with management.
3. Solomon Thomas
The San Francisco 49ers have declined the option on defensive lineman Solomon Thomas.
2. Mitchell Trubisky
The Bears traded up to draft Mitchell Trubisky from North Carolina. He has been inconsistent and disappointing and Chicago is passing on his option.
1. Myles Garrett
The Browns picked up the option on the former Texas A&M defensive lineman and will be thrilled to have him back after an indefinite suspension for an ugly incident against the Steelers and Mason Rudolph in 2019.
