Tag: Fifth-Year Option

Broncos have until May to make a decision on Jerry Jeudy’s fifth-year option

Picking up Jerry Jeudy’s fifth-year option would cost just under $13 million in 2024. That should be an easy decision for the Broncos.

Every player selected in the first round of an NFL draft has a fifth-year option built into his contract. Going into the 2023 offseason, first-round players from the 2020 NFL draft will be eligible for a fifth-year option for 2024.

That includes Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, who was selected with the 15th overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft out of Alabama. The deadline to exercise a fifth-year option for 2024 is May 1.

Picking up the receiver’s option should be an easy decision for the Broncos.

Because he has not made the Pro Bowl and has not played at least 50% of the offensive snaps in each of his first three seasons, Jeudy will be eligible for the “basic” option worth $12,987,000, according to OverTheCap.com.

More playing time could have bumped Jeudy’s option up to $14,124,000, and a Pro Bowl nod would have increased it to $17,991,000. Multiple Pro Bowl selections would have made it $19,743,000.

In terms of salary cap flexibility, Jeudy’s slow start to his career could turn out to be a financial positive for the Broncos over the next two years.

As things stand now, a fifth-year option worth $12,987,000 in 2024 would make him the 26th-highest-paid receiver in the league that year. That would be a bargain for a receiver as talented as Jeudy.

After his first two seasons were hindered by injuries and poor quarterback play, Jeudy had a career year in 2022, totaling 67 receptions for 972 yards and six touchdowns, all career highs. Jeudy will eventually seek a big raise in a multi-year extension, but his fifth-year option gives Denver some cap flexibility for the next two seasons.

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Cowboys learn price tag for CeeDee Lamb’s fifth-year option

Locking up Lamb beyond 2023 will cost the Cowboys a base salary of $17,991,000; the team has until May 1 to exercise his fifth year. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, just like Joe Burrow, Chase Young, Justin Jefferson, and every active player taken in the first round of 2020’s NFL draft, has a four-year contract that is set to expire at the conclusion of next season… unless a fifth-year option is extended.

Teams were permitted to lock in their respective players starting Jan. 9, but the dollar amounts for those fifth-year options had yet to be determined. Thanks to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2020, the final figure for each player derives from factors like the number of times they’ve been voted to the Pro Bowl, their snap counts over their first three seasons, or the average of the 3rd- to 25th-highest salaries at their position over the past five years.

The Cowboys now know the price tag that will be attached to Lamb’s fifth year.

Teams have now been informed of the fifth-year option totals, and Lamb stands to make $17,991,000 in the 2024 season if the Cowboys elect to extend him.

That dollar amount comes from two factors. The first is Lamb’s one original-vote inclusion on last weekend’s Pro Bowl roster; his appearance the year prior was as a fill-in for Cooper Kupp and does not count toward the fifth-year salary calculation. With one Pro Bowl vote, Lamb’s fifth-year price then becomes the same as the transition tag at his position.

Lamb led the Cowboys in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches in 2022. All were also career-best marks for the Oklahoma product. Leaguewide, he finished fourth in targets, fifth in receptions, sixth in yards, and tied for sixth in touchdown grabs.

May 1 is the deadline for teams to pick up their players’ fifth-year options. Doing so with Lamb is expected to be a priority for Dallas this offseason.

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Ron Rivera undecided on Chase Young’s fifth-year option

Rivera thinks not picking up Young’s fifth-year option could be a motivator for Young.

The Washington Commanders have until May 1 to pick up defensive end Chase Young’s fifth-year option on his rookie contract. The NFL released salary numbers for the fifth-year options of the 2020 rookie class Tuesday, and Young is slated to earn $17.5 million in 2024 if the Commanders pick up his option.

At Radio Row Wednesday, Rivera spoke on a number of topics concerning his team, and Young’s contract situation brought the following response:

“You get an opportunity to sit down, look at his tape with our scouts, talk about the way he played,” Rivera said per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “What do we see in terms of development and growth? We’re going to sit down with the doctors, with the trainers. Where is he?”

Young was the NFL defensive rookie in 2020 after he recorded 7.5 sacks. However, in 2021, Young managed just 1.5 sacks in nine games before injuring his knee. He would miss the remainder of the 2021 season and wouldn’t return until Week 16 of the 2022 season.

Rivera then compared Young’s situation to defensive tackle Daron Payne’s from one year ago.

“If you look at what Daron did, why wouldn’t you think of it that way?” Rivera said. “Believe me, that would be my approach, especially looking at what Daron did and the situation he put himself in. … It cost us [with Daron]. But it cost us in a good way, because the young man played; he did things the right way.”

Young and Payne’s situations aren’t necessarily the same. Washington picked up Payne’s fifth-year option two years ago but opted not to offer him a long-term contract last offseason. Payne went on to have a breakout season, recording 11.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss.

It’s interesting that Rivera talks of motivating Young. Considering new ownership may be coming aboard soon, Rivera’s status for 2024 could also be up in the air.

What will Commanders DE Chase Young’s fifth-year option cost in 2024?

The numbers are in.

After winning NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2020, Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young’s career hasn’t gone as planned. There was a devastating knee injury in Week 10 of the 2021 season that not only ended Young’s season but kept him out until Week 16 of the 2022 season.

In three NFL seasons, Young has just nine career sacks, 7.5 of which came in 2020. Again, you can throw out the 2022 season, as Young didn’t play but three games after a grueling recovery. The concern with Young was his 1.5 sacks through nine games in 2021.

However, coaches and fans remain excited about Young’s future. And on Tuesday, another part of his future came into focus. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated revealed the fifth-year option totals for each position for 2020 NFL first-round picks.

It’s broken down into multiple tiers. For players who’ve made two Pro Bowls, players who’ve made one Pro Bowl, players who achieve playtime criterion [no Pro Bowls] and players who did not achieve any criterion.

Young fits into category No. 2. He made the Pro Bowl in 2020; therefore, as a defensive end, he’ll earn $17.45 million in 2024 — if Washington picks up his fifth-year option. The Commanders and all NFL teams have until May 1 to pick up the fifth-year option on the 2020 draft class.

While Young hasn’t lived up to expectations — yet — there’s no doubt the Commanders pick up the fifth-year option. Young is one of the faces of the franchise and possesses immense potential.

The 2023 season is a big one for Young and Washington. If it plays out the way Washington hopes, don’t be surprised if the Commanders approach Young about a contract extension.

At some point, the team will have to decide between Young, Montez Sweat and Daron Payne. Payne is a free agent this offseason, and Sweat is one in 2024. After paying Jonathan Allen, the Commanders will not be able to pay all four. Washington could eventually pay three of the four, though, and it would love to retain Payne immediately.

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Jordan Love’s fifth-year option worth $20.27 million in 2024

The fifth-year option for QB Jordan Love would cost the Packers a little over $20 million during the 2024 season. The team must make that decision this offseason.

The Green Bay Packers have a big decision to make this offseason in regards to whether or not they will pick up Jordan Love’s fifth-year option, which will come with a salary of $20.272 million for the 2024 season.

Every draft pick receives an initial four-year contract, but first-round selections also have a fifth-year option for the team to either pick up or decline. This decision has to be made prior to the player’s fourth NFL season, and if picked up, guarantees their contract in that fifth season.

The value of that guaranteed contract is based upon the position played along with some performance benchmarks that can increase the contract value.

The potential difficulty in this decision for the Packers is obvious in that this is a hefty price to guarantee for Love, who has very little NFL experience. However, despite the lack of meaningful playing time, the Packers have seen him on the practice field, in the locker room, and in the film room for three seasons, which, as Brian Gutekunst told reporters during the 2022 season, gives him the confidence to make a decision.

“We’re really pleased with his progression and what he’s been able to do,” Gutekunst told reporters. “I think it would be really good for him, the growth you need to go through, seeing things for the first time, making those mistakes you need to make, but I think from our end of it, we’ve seen what we need to see.”

Although it’s a small sample size, Love appeared to take a big step forward in his development this past season, which many saw against Philadelphia. He was confident, his footwork looked much improved, and he was decisive in his decision-making, which led to timely and accurate passes.

He is now in a position to potentially be the Packers starting quarterback in 2023, depending on what happens with Aaron Rodgers. While Rodgers is still yet to make his decision official, the reports of a trade taking place have been rampant, and one would think that if true, and the Packers are willing to engage in those discussions, they feel comfortable with Love taking over. Whereas on the flip side, if they still have doubts, I imagine they will be fighting hard to keep Rodgers around in 2023.

If we want to go down the rabbit hole of what happens on the off chance that Rodgers is a Packer in 2023, Green Bay should then trade Love, and the fifth-year option discussion becomes a moot point. But if they want to keep Love around for the 2024 season, picking up his fifth-year option in this scenario feels like the likely outcome as a way to keep Love under contract in 2024, not knowing Rodgers’ future, but also as a sign of good faith. There have been reports out there that Love could demand a trade if Rodgers is back for the 2023 season.

Since the fifth-year option is a one-year deal, all $20.272 million have to be recognized on the 2024 salary cap if picked up. The easiest way around this would be to extend Love next offseason, which would lower his cap hit that season, but of course, that is dependent upon how well he will play in 2023.

Green Bay has to make their official decision on Love’s option by the week after the draft. If I were to guess right now, I’d venture to say that they pick it up. If Love plays well in 2023, they can then extend him in 2024 and lower the cap hit, as already mentioned. If he struggles and they need to look for a new quarterback in the draft next offseason, in the grand scheme of quarterback contracts, $20.272 million is on the light side, and with it only being a one-year deal, it shouldn’t impact how they go about their offseason too drastically.

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Justin Jefferson’s fifth-year option amount is set

The fifth-year option will be a bargain for the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings drafted a superstar wide receiver with the 22nd selection in the 2020 NFL draft in Justin Jefferson. Now that he has three years in the National Football League, discussions are starting when it comes to his contract.

The Vikings would like to sign Jefferson to a long extension to keep him in Minnesota for a long time and the first step is to exercise the fifth-year option on his contract.

According to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the fifth-year option totals have been distributed to teams and it sets Jefferson’s contract at $19,743,000.

The nice part about this number is it is upwards of $10 million less than what he will fetch on an extension which will allow him to be at a slight discount and give the Vikings more flexibility when it comes to maneuvering with an extension.

Jalen Reago will cost significantly less at $12,987,000 but the Vikings will likely decline his option.

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Josh Jacobs: Raiders not picking up 5th year option ‘gave me more reason to come in every day’

Josh Jacobs is using the Raiders not picking up his 5th year option as motivation to earn a second contract.

The Raiders had three picks in the first round of the 2019 draft. Which meant that this offseason they had to make decisions on whether to pick up the fifth year options, which happens prior to each player’s fourth year.

Those three players were Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs, and Johnathan Abram. And the Raiders declined to pick up the options on any of them.

Most thought that if any of them had an outside chance of having their option picked up, it was Jacobs, who the team selected with the 24th overall pick. But with a fifth year salary of around $8 million, even that was a stretch.

The worst thing Jacobs or the others could do is take it personally. For Jacobs’s part he seems to be using it as motivation.

“I’m a firm believer in the work that you put in is going to pay off for itself,” said Jacobs. “I had to be here either way. And this is where I want to be, so I didn’t have no problem with it. It just gave me more reason to come in every day and gel with the guys and work, so that’s how I looked at it.”

It’s important to note that just because a team declines a player’s option, doesn’t automatically mean they will be cutting ties with that player after their rookie contract is up. It just means that prior to that fourth year, they weren’t ready to commit to that player for a fifth year at the salary on his contract.

So, Jacobs could easily go out there and play well enough to have the Raiders offering him a lucrative long term deal after this season. It actually benefits him in that he may also receive long term deals from other teams and get to choose where he plays. In that regard, he could see it as a positive thing. Now it’s in his hands.

Report: Texans expected to exercise fifth-year option for RT Tytus Howard

The Houston Texans are expected to use the fifth-year option on former 2019 first-round tackle Tytus Howard.

The Houston Texans are set to make a move to give even more continuity and clarity to their offensive line.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, the Texans are expected to pick up the fifth-year option on the rookie contract for Tytus Howard.

The Texans drafted Howard in the first round in 2019, and he has predominantly played right tackle along the offensive line. Last season saw the former Alabama State product moving around from inside to guard spots to outside to play both left and right tackle.

Throughout the offseason workouts, the Texans had been determining where to fit in Howard as they sought to put the best five-man combination on the field.

“It’s something that Coach (Lovie) Smith and our staff will continue to work through just to make sure we put the best five guys in a position for us to be successful offensively,” offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton told reporters on April 11.

Howard, who plays better at tackle than inside at guard, nevertheless prides himself on being able to have position flex.

“I think if you’re versatile, I think it just gives the coaches more leeway to certain players they might want to bring in, or certain plays they want to run, thinking about me being versatile the way I am, being able to put me at guard or tackle,” Howard said on April 26. “I think it just helps the team in general and it helps me because I get a chance to know all the plays and what everyone has to do, so it’s only going to make me play faster when I’m out there.”

The Texans drafted Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green with the No. 15 overall pick in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft, which also gives clarity as to where Howard will play going forward. With the interior of the line shored up with a first-round selection, Howard can stay at right tackle with two-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil at left tackle.

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Clelin Ferrell now enters contract year hoping ability to be ‘diverse’ can reverse fortunes

Clelin Ferrell says he can play anywhere from interior DL to LB in Patrick Graham’s scheme. Now in a contract year Ferrell hopes that versatility can reverse his fortunes

It’s safe to say the first three years of Clelin Ferrell’s career has not gone as he hoped or the Raiders expected. The former 4th overall pick today learned the team has opted not to pick up his fifth year option, which means he is now entering a contract year.

While this is not good news for Ferrell, it’s also an opportunity.

With a new staff in place, particularly with new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Ferrell will have a chance to turn his career around and earn a second contract. Whether from the Raiders or another team.

It’s been a few weeks now since the players met their new coaching staff and thus began getting a good idea of what is expected of them. I asked Ferrell this week what his role will be, and he suggested that his value in the new scheme will be in his ability to play multiple positions.

“That’s the best thing, when you understand someone like a Patrick Graham or Josh McDaniels, you got to understand [they’re] very, very detailed in what they do. In everything. How they pick their players and who they put on the field. So, everyone has a role that they want to do,” said Ferrell. “I think for me I can be very, very diverse. So, whether that’s playing inside or whether that’s playing linebacker, whether that’s, shoot, somebody went down last year and I had to start on punt team. It’s just a difference, but it doesn’t really matter to me. At the end of the day, I got drafted here and I come from a place where it’s all about somebody working toward a common goal.”

The previous staff tried moving Ferrell around a bit to find ways to get him on the field and get the most out of him. While the new staff has eschewed the idea that they will be choosing between a 4-3 or a 3-4, most indications are that they lean more toward 3-4.

Ferrell’s suggestion that he could play linebacker could also be an indication of more of a 3-4 base, simply because outside linebackers in a 3-4 rush the passer a lot and he is absolutely not and off-ball linebacker. If anything, his best fit would seem to be as a 5-tech defensive end which would most often not be rushing the edge, where he has not been a strength for him.

It is certainly possible Ferrell could rise up and play his best football this season and earn a payday next offseason. Just as players can benefit from a change of scenery, they can also benefit from a change in scheme, coaching, or usage. Ferrell and Graham will have this season to try and find that sweet spot. Or, perhaps, spots as it were.

Packers pick up Rashan Gary’s fifth-year option

In an expected move, the Packers picked up the fifth-year option of OLB Rashan Gary.

The Green Bay Packers picked up Rashan Gary’s fifth-year contract option, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

Gary, the 12th overall pick in the 2019 draft, will remain under contract with the Packers through the 2023 season. He broke out as a star rusher in 2021 (9.5 sacks) and will go into the 2022 season as one of the NFL’s best young defensive players.

The fifth-year option will be valued at around $11 million for Gary in 2023.

Gary, who doesn’t turn 25 until December, has played in 47 games (with 20 starts) over three seasons in Green Bay. He’s produced 16.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 42 quarterback hits and 16 tackles for loss.

All first-round picks receive fully guaranteed four-year contracts with fifth-year options. Teams must decide on the fifth year between the player’s third and fourth seasons.

If Gary continues his ascent in 2022, the Packers will likely approach him about a long-term contract extension at some point next offseason.

The Packers have picked up their fifth-year options on four straight first-round picks: Gary, Darnell Savage, Jaire Alexander and Kenny Clark. The decision on Jordan Love comes next year at this time.

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