The fifth-year option often tells you what a team thinks of the player it drafted. In this case, the year to examine is 2016 and the first round. Remember, there were 31 selections that NFL Draft because the Patriots were stripped of their first-rounder due to Deflategate.
31. Seattle Seahwks: Germain Ifedi
The Seahawks declined their fifth-year option on Germain Ifedi. Well, you know, it’s football, nothing’s promised,” Ifedi said. “Could be my last day out here. So, you know, taking one day at a time, as cliche as it sounds, taking one day at a time and work as hard as you can and everything will work out.”
30. Carolina Panthers: Vernon Butler
The Carolina Panthers are not sold on Vernon Butler. That explains the team’s decision to decline the option year. Butler gave the team good reason for its decision. He has never played in all 16 games during a season and hasn’t seen more than 33 percent of the team’s defensive snaps at any point during his NFL career.
29. Arizona Cardinals: Robert Nkemdiche
Robert Nkemdiche’s option would have cost the Cardinals $8.6 million for 2019. They didn’t think the defensive lineman from Ole Miss was worth the risk/reward and he will be a free agent in 2020. Nkemdiche, 24, appeared in five games as a rookie. In 2017, he appeared in 12 games and finished with 11 tackles. Last year, he made 32 tackles along with 4.5 sacks before he was injured.
28. San Francisco 49ers: Joshua Garnett
Joshua Garnett also falls under “decline.” After starting in 11 games as a rookie in 2016, the offensive lineman has played in just seven over the last two seasons. The Niners would have been on the hook for $10.350 million in the 2020 season had they picked up Garnett’s option.
27. Green Bay Packers: Kenny Clark
“He’s a dominant player on the defensive front,” GM Brian Gutekunst said of defensive tackle Kenny Clark. That made it an easy call for Green Bay to exercise the fifth-year option on the former UCLA star.
26. Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch
Quarterback Paxton Lynch didn’t impress in Denver. In two seasons with the Broncos, Lynch made four starts and threw four touchdowns and four interceptions. He was done at the end of training camp last season and is now looking to find a home in Seattle.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Artie Burns
Artie Burns’ poor play made it an easy call for the Steelers to say “no, thanks” on his fifth-year option. Coach Mike Tomlin admitted in March he was “disappointed” in the 25th overall pick in 2016. “Certainly,” Tomlin said. “Having the ability to carry those talents into a stadium kind of defines us, or inability the do so, so certainly.”
24. Cincinnati Bengals: William Jackson
William Jackson’s stellar play in 2017 offset a bit of an off-season in 2018 and made the Bengals’ choice easy to pick up the DB’s option. Jackson has played in 31 games with 21 starts.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Laquon Treadwell
No shock here on the Vikings opting to pass on the receiver who hasn’t caught enough passes for them to lock him up for a fifth season. When you have 56 receptions for 517 yards and one touchdown in three NFL seasons, you aren’t about to get a $9.4 million guarantee.
22. Washington Redskins: Josh Doctson
Washington decided to decline the option on Josh Doctson. That has the wideout thinking this will be his final season in D.C. “I think I’m hitting free agency next year,” Doctson said, per ESPN’s John Keim. “I won’t be the first, won’t be the last. It’s nothing to be sad about, be mad about. Someone wants you there, so it’s all love.”
21. Houston Texans: Will Fuller
Will Fuller has not been able to dodge the injury bug. However, the Texans saw enough of the wideout to keep him around for a fifth season. Fuller has caught 11 touchdowns in 11 games with Deshaun Watson at quarterback and has averaged more than 15 yards a catch over the last two seasons. The cautionary note: he’s played 17 games over that span,
20. New York Jets: Darron Lee
Darron Lee was suspended for four games in 2018. His overall play was not impactful and rather than making a decision, the Jets simply traded him to Kansas City.
19. Buffalo Bills: Shaq Lawson
Shaq Lawson won’t be in for a big payday from Buffalo for 2020 unless he steps up his game in 2019. Of 48 possible games, the 6-foot-3, 267-pounder has started only 17, and he has missed 13 and parts of others due to injuries. The Bills basically made the only sound decision by declining his option.
18. Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Kelly
Ryan Kelly has been a vital cog in Indy’s offensive line since being drafted out of Alabama. That made it an easy call for GM Chris Ballard and the brass to pick up his option.
17. Atlanta Falcons: Keanu Neal
Keanue Neal has proven to be one of the better safeties in the league. That’s why the Falcons picked up his fifth-year option. Since entering the league, Neal has 220 total combined tackles, 14 pass breakups, forced eight fumbles, and one interception.
16. Detroit Lions: Taylor Decker
The team’s announcement said it all: “The Detroit Lions announced today that they have exercised the fifth-year option on the contract of T Taylor Decker. Entering his fourth NFL season, Decker has appeared in 40 career games (40 starts) for Detroit. He was drafted by the Lions in the first round (16th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.”
15. Cleveland Browns: Corey Coleman
A complete and utter bust. Currently with the New York Giants.
14. Oakland Raiders: Karl Joseph
Karl Joseph impressed Jon Gruden and that’s a good thing for anyone playing with Oakland. “Karl Joseph,” Gruden said, “has asserted himself as a leader on our football team.” That was good enough praise for the Raiders to pick up the option on Joseph, who missed part of 2018 due to injury.
13. Miami Dolphins: Laremy Tunsil
Laremy Tunsil fell on draft night in 2016 after a bizarre video surfaced. The Dolphins took a chance and have been rewarded. The big was ranked 16th overall in pass blocking among all NFL offensive tackles who played at least 50 percent of the offensive snaps according to ProFootballFocus.
12. New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Rankins
A torn Achilles suffered in the divisional round game against the Eagles did not deter the Saints from exercising their option on Sheldon Rankins.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves
Despite being limited to 10 games over the past two seasons, the Bucs decided to exercise their fifth-year option on Vernon Hargreaves’ contract.
10. New York Giants: Eli Apple
Eli Apple wore out his welcome with the Giants by running his mouth. The DB was shipped to New Orleans during last season.
9. Chicago Bears: Leonard Floyd
The Bears’ defense is rock solid and Leonard Floyd is a vital cog in it. Floyd is coming off a good season in which he started all 16 games. The Bears see him as a major building block.
8. Tennessee Titans: Jack Conklin
Two lackluster seasons after a strong rookie campaign led to the Titans declining the option on former Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin.
7. San Francisco 49ers: DeForest Buckner
DeForest Buckner’s value to San Francisco is understood and that is why the team picked up the option on his contract.
6. Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley
Ronnie Stanley will make about $13 million in 2020, as the Ravens picked up the final year of his rookie deal. Stanley has been a sturdy pass protector and fierce run blocker.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey
Jalen Ramsey will be staying with the Jaguars for this year and next year. Ramsey reached his second straight Pro Bowl in 2018. He finished with 65 combined tackles, three interceptions and 13 passes defended.
4. Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott
An absolute no-brainer in picking up the option on the contract of former Ohio State star Ezekiel Elliott. Now, Dallas has to hope his behavior does not get in the way of his future. The two-time rushing champion will make $3.9 million this season and $9.1 million in his fifth year unless Elliott and the team agree on a contract before then.
3. Los Angeles Chargers: Joey Bosa
Joey Bosa earned the option the Chargers picked up. “He’s a great player for us and does so many things,” defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. “Not only on the field but what he brings to our whole unit — the expectations, the standard that he creates. We’re excited to get him back for another year.” Bosa has 28.5 sacks in 35 games.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz and the Eagles agree they are a great match. The team gave the quarterback a four-year extension worth a sweet $128 million. Now, Philly has to hope he stays healthy.
1. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff
