2025 5th-Year Option Decisions

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertMay 02, 2024
© USA TODAY Sports

With the deadline to decide on 5th-Year Options for 2021 1st round draft picks now passed, we'll dig out a few notable notes from the final results. Of Note: Any 5th-year option that has been exercised here immediately becomes fully guaranteed for the 2025 season. Any player who has had their option declined is now scheduled for unrestricted free agency next March (barring an extension or tag).

Related: NFL Draft Contract Tracker

Without question, the biggest takeaway from this class has to be the lack of success surrounding the QB class. Of the 5 quarterbacks selected in the 2021 1st Round, four have been both traded - and subsequently had their 2025 option salary declined. Only Trevor Lawrence, the #1 overall selection, saw his option exercised, guaranteeing him $25.664M in 2025.

Three players avoided the option decision by agreeing to contract extensions in recent weeks:
- OL Penei Sewell, 4 years, $112M
- WR DeVonta Smith, 3 years, $75M (Philly exercised the option as part of the extension)
- WR Rashod Bateman, 2 years, $12.8M (didn't qualify for an option due to lack of accrued service time)

In total, 18 players had their option exercised (including 2 that were exercised immediately prior to an extension), and 12 players had their option declined. 6 of the Top 10 draft picks were exercised (2 extended, 2 declined).

Odd Fun Fact: This is the 2nd straight offseason that the #2 & #3 overall selections had their 5th-year options declined (Zach Wilson/Trey Lane this year, Chase Young/Jeff Okudah last year).

2021 1st Round 5th-Year Option Decisions

PICK PLAYER TEAM POS OPTION DECISION
1 Trevor Lawrence JAC QB $25,664,000 Exercised
2 Zach Wilson DEN QB $22,408,000 Declined
3 Trey Lance DAL QB $22,408,000 Declined
4 Kyle Pitts ATL TE $10,878,000 Exercised
5 Ja'Marr Chase CIN WR $21,816,000 Exercised
6 Jaylen Waddle MIA WR $15,591,000 Exercised
7 Penei Sewell DET RT $19,040,000 Extended
8 Jaycee Horn CAR CB $12,472,000 Exercised
9 Patrick Surtain II DEN CB $19,802,000 Exercised
10 DeVonta Smith PHI WR $15,591,000 Extended
11 Justin Fields PIT QB $25,664,000 Declined
12 Micah Parsons DAL ILB $21,324,000 Exercised
13 Rashawn Slater LAC LT $19,040,000 Exercised
14 Alijah Vera-Tucker NYJ G $15,313,000 Exercised
15 Mac Jones JAC QB $25,664,000 Declined
16 Zaven Collins ARI LB $13,251,000 Declined
17 Alex Leatherwood   RT   N/A
18 Jaelan Phillips MIA DE $13,251,000 Exercised
19 Jamin Davis WAS LB $14,483,000 Declined
20 Kadarius Toney KC WR $14,435,000 Declined
21 Kwity Paye IND DE $13,387,000 Exercised
22 Caleb Farley TEN CB $12,472,000 Declined
23 Christian Darrisaw MIN T $16,037,000 Exercised
24 Najee Harris PIT RB $6,790,000 Declined
25 Travis Etienne JAC RB $6,143,000 Exercised
26 Greg Newsome CLE CB $13,377,000 Exercised
27 Rashod Bateman BAL WR $14,435,000 Extended
28 Payton Turner NO DE $13,387,000 Declined
29 Eric Stokes GB CB $12,472,000 Declined
30 Greg Rousseau BUF DE $13,387,000 Exercised
31 Odafe Oweh BAL OLB $13,251,000 Exercised
32 Joe Tryon TB OLB $13,251,000 Declined

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