The standard NFL contract for a drafted rookie covers the first four years of his career. Unless they were selected in the first round — then it might be a little bit longer.
The league’s current collective bargaining agreement has a built-in fifth-year team option for every first-round pick. For some franchises, it’s a no-brainer decision that keeps a talented star on the roster at a reasonable price. For others it’s a tough call between what could be a slight overpay for a solid, if unspectacular contributor. And others don’t have to worry about it, because they drafted a bust they’d released a year ago.
The deadline for each team’s decision on their once-vaunted prospects came May 3. Here are the players who are guaranteed a hefty raise for their fifth seasons — and who could be headed toward free agency.
1
QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Fifth-year option value: $29.5 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
2
DE Chase Young, Washington Redskins
Fifth-year option value: $17.5 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
3
CB Jeff Okudah, Atlanta Falcons (originally drafted by the Detroit Lions)
Fifth-year option value: n/a
Fifth-year picked up? n/a
Detroit paid $1.5 million of Okudah’s salary in order to send him south, thus making him ineligible for a fifth-year option.
4
OT Andrew Thomas, New York Giants
Fifth-year option value: $14.2 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
5
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Fifth-year option value: $23.2 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
6
QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Fifth-year option value: $29.5 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
7
DT Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
Fifth-year option value: $11.7 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
8
LB Isaiah Simmons, Arizona Cardinals
Fifth-year option value: $12.7 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
9
CB C.J. Henderson, Carolina Panthers (originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars)
Fifth-year option value: $11.5 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
10
OT Jedrick Wills, Cleveland Browns
Fifth-year option value: $14.2 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
11
OT Mekhi Becton , New York Jets
Fifth-year option value: $13.6 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
12
WR Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders
Fifth-year option value: n/a
Fifth-year picked up? n/a
The Raiders released Ruggs in 2021 following his involvement in a fatal car crash in which a young woman and her dog were killed. He is expected to plead guilty to one count of DUI resulting in death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. He’s expected to plead guilty later this month and will serve three to 10 years in a Nevada state prison.
13
OT Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fifth-year option value: $18.2 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
14
DT Javon Kinlaw, San Francisco 49ers
Fifth-year option value: $10.5 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
15
WR Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Fifth-year option value: $13 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
16
CB A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons
Fifth-year option value: $12.3 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
17
WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Fifth-year option value: $17.9 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
18
T Austin Jackson, Miami Dolphins
Fifth-year option value: $14.2 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
19
CB Damon Arnette, Las Vegas Raiders
Fifth-year option value: n/a
Fifth-year picked up? n/a
The Raiders released Arnette midseason in 2021 after a viral video in which he’s seen brandishing a gun and threatening to kill someone. He later spent time as an inactive member of the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs but was cut by the latter after being arrested for two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, carrying or concealing gun without a permit and two counts of possession of controlled substances in 2022. He is currently a free agent.
20
OLB K'Lavon Chaisson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Fifth-year option value: $12.1 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
21
WR Jalen Reagor, Minnesota Vikings (originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles)
Fifth-year option value: $13 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
22
WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Fifth-year option value: $19.7 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
23
LB Kenneth Murray, Los Angeles Chargers
Fifth-year option value: $11.7 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
24
IOL Cesar Ruiz, New Orleans Saints
Fifth-year option value: $14.2 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
25
WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Fifth-year option value: $14.1 million
Fifth-year picked up? Yes
26
QB Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Fifth-year option value: $20.3 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
Rather than pick up Love’s fifth-year option, the Packers signed him to a one-year extension worth $13.5 million guaranteed with incentives worth up to $23.2 million total.
27
LB Jordyn Brooks, Seattle Seahawks
Fifth-year option value: $12.7 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
28
LB Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens
Fifth-year option value: $12.7 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
29
OT Isaiah Wilson, free agent (originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans)
Fifth-year option value: n/a
Fifth-year picked up? n/a
Wilson played one snap as a rookie and was released by the Titans, and then the Miami Dolphins, before spending 2021 on the Giants’ practice squad. He was not on a roster in 2022.
30
CB Noah Igbinoghene, Miami Dolphins
Fifth-year option value: $13.2 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
31
CB Jeff Gladney (originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings)
Fifth-year option value: n/a
Fifth-year picked up? n/a
Gladney tragically died in a car accident in May 2022.
32
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
Fifth-year option value: $5.5 million
Fifth-year picked up? No
