The deadline for NFL teams to exercise fifth-year options on players drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft was May 1.
All rookies sign four-year deals, but teams can extend that to five years for first-rounders using the fifth-year option. The salaries are based on position, playing time, and performance and are guaranteed when the option is exercised. These decisions come after a player’s third NFL season.
Players whose options are exercised will be under contract through 2026. Those whose options are declined will hit free agency after the 2025 season.
NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
- No. 1 pick: Travon Walker, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
$14.751 million | Exercised - No. 2: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
$20.862 million | Exercised - No. 3: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Houston Texans
Stingley and the Texans agreed to a three-year, $90 million contract extension in March, which includes $63.5 million guaranteed. The extension made Stingley the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
- No. 4: Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets
$20.186 million | Exercised - No. 5: Kayvon Thibodeaux, OLB, New York Giants
$14.751 million | Exercised - No. 6: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, Carolina Panthers
$17.560 million | Exercised - No. 7: Evan Neal, OT, Giants
$16.685 million | Declined - No. 8: Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
$16.817 million | Exercised - No. 9: Charles Cross, OT, Seattle Seahawks
$17.560 million | Exercised - No. 10: Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets
$16.817 million | Exercised - No. 11: Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
$15.493 million | Exercised - No. 12: Jameson Williams, WR, Lions
$15.493 million | Exercised - No. 13: Jordan Davis, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
$12.938 million | Exercised - No. 14: Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore Ravens
$18.6 million | Exercised - No. 15: Kenyon Green, OL, Eagles
$16.685 million | Declined
- No. 16: Jahan Dotson, WR, Eagles
$16.817 million | Declined - No. 17: Zion Johnson, OL, Los Angeles Chargers
$16.817 million | Declined - No. 18: Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans
$15.493 million | Declined - No. 19: Trevor Penning, OT, Saints
$16.685 million | Declined - No. 20: Kenny Pickett, QB, Cleveland Browns
$22.117 million | Declined - No. 21: Trent McDuffie, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
$13.632 million | Exercised - No. 22: Quay Walker, LB, Green Bay Packers
$14.751 million | Declined - No. 23: Kaiir Elam, CB, Dallas Cowboys
$12.682 million | Declined - No. 24: Tyler Smith, OG, Cowboys
$21.272 million | Exercised - No. 25: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Ravens
$23.403 million | Declined - No. 26: Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Jets
$13.411 million | Exercised - No. 27: Devin Lloyd, LB, Jaguars
$14.751 million | Declined
- No. 28: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Packers
$13.922 million | Declined - No. 29: Cole Strange, G, New England Patriots
$16.685 million | Declined - No. 30: George Karlaftis, edge, Chiefs
$15.196 million | Exercised - No. 31: Dax Hill, CB, Cincinnati Bengals
$12.682 million | Exercised - No. 32: Lewis Cine, S, Eagles
Cine is not eligible for a fifth-year option after being released before the 2024 season. He joined the Bills’ practice squad in August 2024 and appeared in one game. The Eagles signed him off Buffalo’s practice squad in January 2025.
How the NFL Fifth-Year Option Works
The 2021 first-round draft picks whose options are exercised and who made two or more Pro Bowls in their first three seasons will be paid the franchise tag salary for their position in 2025.
The salary structure for players with one Pro Bowl appearance is the same as the 2025 transition tag.
Players who were on the field for 75% of their team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of their first three seasons or have a 50% playtime average over three seasons will earn the average of the 3rd-20th highest-paid players at their position.
Players who don’t meet any criterion of the above are paid the average of the 3rd-25th highest.
Fifth-Year Option Salaries for Players Selected to 2+ Pro Bowls
- Quarterback | $38.3 million
- Running back | $11.95 million
- Wide receiver | $21.82 million
- Tight end | $12.69 million
- Offensive line | $20.99 million
- Defensive end | $21.32 million
- Defensive tackle | $22.1 million
- Linebacker | $24 million
- Cornerback | $19.8 million
- Safety | $17.12 million
- Kicker/punter | $5.98 million
Fifth-Year Option Salaries for Players Selected to 1 Pro Bowl
- Quarterback | $34.37 million
- Running back | $9.77 million
- Wide receiver | $19.77 million
- Tight end | $10.88 million
- Offensive line | $19 million
- Defensive end | $19.1 million
- Defensive tackle | $18.49 million
- Linebacker | $19.97 million
- Cornerback | $17.22 million
- Safety | $13.82 million
- Kicker/punter | $5.43 million
Fifth-Year Option Salaries for Players Who Achieve Play-Time Criterion (No Pro Bowls)
- Quarterback | $25.66 million
- Running back | $6.79 million
- Wide receiver | $15.59 million
- Tight end | $7.96 million
- Offensive line | $16.04 million
- Defensive end | $14.58 million
- Defensive tackle | $13.1 million
- Linebacker | $14.48 million
- Cornerback | $13.38 million
- Safety | $9.51 million
- Kicker/punter | $4.39 million
Fifth-Year Option Salaries for Players Who Do Not Meet Any Criterion
- Quarterback | $22.41 million
- Running back | $6.14 million
- Wide receiver | $14.35 million
- Tight end | $7.21 million
- Offensive line | $13.31 million
- Defensive end | $13.39 million
- Defensive tackle | $11.75 million
- Linebacker | $13.25 million
- Cornerback | $12.47 million
- Safety | $8.65 million
- Kicker/punter | $4.1 million
