There is no exact science when it comes to the NFL draft, every pick is a hope and a prayer for the franchise. Sure, players picked in the first round are expected to have more success than players selected in later rounds, but making it to a second contract is nearly as hard as making it to the league in the first place.
Of the 32 players selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, only 12 of them had their 5th-year options picked up which fully guarantees their money in 2024. Guys like Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson are no-brainers, but what I found to be interesting is that three of those 12 players with their options picked up are former Alabama players. Those three players are Tua Tagovailoa, Jedrick Wills and Jerry Jeudy.
The quantity of talent that Nick Saban produces is well known, but it is the quality of his players that makes him so unique. All three of these guys have been scrutinized at points in their careers for inconsistent play or injuries, but the teams are making a vote of confidence by bringing them on for another year.
Only 12 players had their 5th-year options picked up:
Joe Burrow: $29.5M
Andrew Thomas: $14.1
Tua Tagovailoa: $23.1M
Justin Herbert: $29.5M
Derrick Brown: $11.6M
Jedrick Wills: $14.1M
Tristan Wirfs: $18.2M
Jerry Jeudy: $12.9M
AJ Terrell: $12.3M
CeeDee Lamb: $17.9M
Justin…— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 2, 2023
Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor Tagovailoa, Wills and Jeudy’s NFL careers.
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