What is a fifth-year option in the NFL? Explaining deadline for teams to pick up final year of rookie contract

Edward Sutelan

What is a fifth-year option in the NFL? Explaining deadline for teams to pick up final year of rookie contract image

Players drafted by the NFL know how long it will take for them to initially reach free agency.

Coming out of college, players selected in the seven rounds of an NFL Draft have four years to wait on a cost-effective rookie contract. For some, it's a high-paying contract that continues to allow them to play football for a few years. For others, it's just about winding the clock down to reach the big payday at the end.

Back before the 2011 NFL Draft, there was a new wrinkle added to contracts: the fifth-year option. Not long after the 2024 NFL Draft came to a close, teams are now having to make final decisions on first-rounders from the 2021 NFL Draft to decide whether to exercise that option.

What is the fifth-year option? Here's what you need to know.

MORE: NFL post-draft power rankings

What is a fifth-year option in the NFL?

The fifth-year option is a chance for NFL teams to keep their highest-drafted players around the roster for an extra year. Unlike rookies drafted in the second through seventh rounds, first-round picks have a team option that can be picked up in the preseason before their fourth year of the rookie deal.

There is a catch to the fifth-year option. While most of a player's rookie contract is relatively inexpensive, the fifth-year option is a drastic increase in salary. For example, the 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow made $11.5 million in 2023 as the fourth year of his rookie contract, according to Spotrac. In 2024, before his extension, he was set to make $29.5 million on the fifth-year option.

Fifth-year option salary

There are several factors used to determine the cost of a fifth-year option, based on the 2020 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement. There have been changes made to the factors over the years, but the following are the steps for players drafted in the first round in 2018 and beyond.

The highest-paid fifth-year option will be for players who earn multiple Pro Bowls on the original ballot in their career. Alternates are not counted. Those players will earn a salary based on the franchise tag cost of a player at that position. Next up are players who are named to just one Pro Bowl. Those players earn the equivalent of their respective position's transition tag cost. 

If a player was not named to any Pro Bowl teams (or was only named as an alternate), playing time becomes a factor. Players that appeared in either 75-plus percent of possible snaps in two of their first three seasons, an average of 75-plus percent of possible snaps during all three seasons, or at least 50 percent of possible snaps all three seasons will receive a salary that is the average of the 3rd-20th highest paid players at the position over the past five years.

First-round picks who don't meet that playing time criteria earn an average of the 3rd-25th highest salaries over the past five years.

MORE: Draft grades for all 32 NFL teams

2024 fifth-year option deadline

Teams will have until Thursday, May 2, to let the league office know about fifth-year option decisions. The window to let the league know about the decision opened on Jan. 8.

History of fifth-year options

The fifth-year option has been a part of first-round rookie contracts since the 2011 draft class. Sporting News has tracked each option since the initial round of decisions made by teams.

Here's a look at all the fifth-year option decisions, sorted by draft class. All teams listed are the team that drafted them unless listed in parentheses.

DRAFT CLASS: 2011 - 2012 - 2013 - 2014 - 2015 - 2016 - 2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - 2021

2011

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Panthers Cam Newton QB Yes
2 Broncos Von Miller LB Yes
3 Bills Marcell Dareus DT Yes
4 Bengals A.J. Green WR Yes
5 Cardinals Patrick Peterson CB Yes
6 Falcons Julio Jones WR Yes
7 49ers Aldon Smith DE Yes
8 Titans Jake Locker QB No
9 Cowboys Tyron Smith T Yes
10 49ers (Jaguars) Blaine Gabbert QB No
11 Texans J.J. Watt DE Yes
12 Vikings Christian Ponder QB No
13 Lions Nick Fairley DT No
14 Rams Robert Quinn DE Yes
15 Dolphins Mike Pouncey G Yes
16 Commanders Ryan Kerrigan DE Yes
17 Patriots Nate Solder T Yes
18 Chargers Corey Liuget DT Yes
19 Giants Prince Amukamara CB Yes
20 Buccaneers Adrian Clayborn DE No
21 Browns Phil Taylor DT Yes
22 Colts Anthony Castonzo T Yes
23 Eagles Danny Watkins G Released
24 Saints Cameron Jordan DE Yes
25 Seahawks James Carpenter T No
26 49ers (Chiefs) Jonathan Baldwin WR No
27 Ravens Jimmy Smith CB Yes
28 Saints Mark Ingram RB No
29 Bears Gabe Carimi T Released
30 Jets Muhammad Wilkerson DT Yes
31 Steelers Cameron Heyward DE Yes
32 Packers Derek Sherrod T No

2012

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Colts Andrew Luck QB Yes
2 Commanders Robert Griffin III QB Yes
3 Browns Trent Richardson RB Released
4 Vikings Matt Kalil T Yes
5 Jaguars Justin Blackmon WR Suspended
6 Cowboys Morris Claiborne CB No
7 Rams (Buccaneers) Mark Barron S No
8 Dolphins Ryan Tannehill QB Yes
9 Panthers Luke Kuechly LB Yes
10 Bills Stephon Gilmore CB Yes
11 Chiefs Dontari Poe DT Yes
12 Eagles Fletcher Cox DT Yes
13 Cardinals Michael Floyd WR Yes
14 Rams Michael Brockers DT Yes
15 Seahawks Bruce Irvin DE No
16 Jets Quinton Coples DE Yes
17 Bengals Dre Kirkpatrick CB Yes
18 Chargers Melvin Ingram DE Yes
19 Bears Shea McClellin DE No
20 Titans Kendall Wright WR Yes
21 Patriots Chandler Jones DE Yes
22 Browns Brandon Weeden QB Released
23 Lions Riley Reiff T Yes
24 Steelers David DeCastro G Yes
25 Patriots Dont'a Hightower LB Yes
26 Texans Whitney Mercilus DE Extension
27 Bengals Kevin Zeitler G Yes
28 Packers Nick Perry DE No
29 Vikings Harrison Smith S Yes
30 49ers A.J. Jenkins WR Released
31 Buccaneers Doug Martin RB No
32 Giants David Wilson RB Retired

2013

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Chiefs Eric Fisher T Yes
2 Jaguars Luke Joeckel T No
3 Dolphins Dion Jordan DE Suspended
4 Eagles Lane Johnson T Extension
5 Lions Ezekiel Ansah DE Yes
6 Browns Barkevious Mingo LB No
7 Patriots (Cardinals) Jonathan Cooper G No
8 Rams Tavon Austin WR Yes
9 Jets Dee Milliner CB No
10 Titans Chance Warmack G No
11 Chargers D.J. Fluker T Yes
12 Raiders D.J. Hayden CB No
13 Jets Sheldon Richardson DT Yes
14 Panthers Star Lotulelei DT Yes
15 Saints Kenny Vaccaro S Yes
16 Bills EJ Manuel QB No
17 Steelers Jarvis Jones LB No
18 49ers Eric Reid S Yes
19 Giants Justin Pugh T Yes
20 Bears Kyle Long G Yes
21 Bengals Tyler Eifert TE Yes
22 Falcons Desmond Trufant CB Yes
23 Vikings Sharrif Floyd DT Yes
24 Colts Bjoern Werner DE Released
25 Vikings Xavier Rhodes CB Yes
26 Packers Datone Jones DE No
27 Texans DeAndre Hopkins WR Yes
28 Broncos Sylvester Williams DT No
29 Vikings Cordarrelle Patterson WR No
30 Rams Alec Ogletree LB Yes
31 Cowboys Travis Frederick C Yes
32 Ravens Matt Elam S No

2014

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Texans Jadeveon Clowney DE Yes
2 Rams Greg Robinson T No
3 Jaguars Blake Bortles QB Yes
4 Bills Sammy Watkins WR No
5 Raiders Khalil Mack LB Yes
6 Falcons Jake Matthews T Yes
7 Buccaneers Mike Evans WR Yes
8 Browns Justin Gilbert CB Released
9 Vikings Anthony Barr LB Yes
10 Lions Eric Ebron TE Yes
11 Titans Taylor Lewan T Yes
12 Giants Odell Beckham Jr. WR Yes
13 Rams Aaron Donald DT Yes
14 Bears Kyle Fuller CB No
15 Steelers Ryan Shazier LB Yes
16 Cowboys Zack Martin G Yes
17 Ravens C.J. Mosley LB Yes
18 Jets Calvin Pryor S No
19 Dolphins Ja'Wuan James T Yes
20 Patriots (Saints) Brandin Cooks WR Yes
21 Packers Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S Yes
22 Browns Johnny Manziel QB Released
23 Chiefs Dee Ford LB Yes
24 Bengals Darqueze Dennard CB Yes
25 Chargers Jason Verrett CB Yes
26 Eagles Marcus Smith LB No
27 Cardinals Deone Bucannon S Yes
28 Panthers Kelvin Benjamin WR Yes
29 Patriots Dominique Easley DT Released
30 49ers Jimmie Ward S Yes
31 Broncos Bradley Roby CB Yes
32 Vikings Teddy Bridgewater QB No

2015

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Buccaneers Jameis Winston QB Yes
2 Titans Marcus Mariota QB Yes
3 Jaguars Dante Fowler OLB No
4 Raiders Amari Cooper WR Yes
5 Commanders Brandon Scherff T Yes
6 Jets Leonard Williams DE Yes
7 Bears Kevin White WR No
8 Falcons Vic Beasley OLB Yes
9 Giants Ereck Flowers T No
10 Rams Todd Gurley RB Yes
11 Vikings Trae Waynes CB Yes
12 Browns Danny Shelton DT No
13 Saints Andrus Peat T Yes
14 Dolphins DeVante Parker WR Yes
15 Chargers Melvin Gordon RB Yes
16 Texans Kevin Johnson CB Yes
17 49ers Arik Armstead DT Yes
18 Rams (Chiefs) Marcus Peters CB Yes
19 Browns Cameron Erving C No
20 Eagles Nelson Agholor WR Yes
21 Bengals Cedric Ogbuehi T No
22 Steelers Bud Dupree OLB Yes
23 Broncos Shane Ray DE No
24 Cardinals D.J. Humphries T Yes
25 Panthers Shaq Thompson OLB Yes
26 Ravens Breshad Perriman WR No
27 Cowboys Byron Jones CB Yes
28 49ers (Lions) Laken Tomlinson G No
29 Patriots (Colts) Phillip Dorsett WR No
30 Browns (Packers) Damarious Randall S Yes
31 Dolphins (Saints) Stephone Anthony ILB No
32 Patriots Malcom Brown DT No

2016

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Rams Jared Goff QB Yes
2 Eagles Carson Wentz QB Yes
3 Chargers Joey Bosa DE Yes
4 Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott RB Yes
5 Jaguars Jalen Ramsey CB Yes
6 Ravens Ronnie Stanley T Yes
7 49ers DeForest Buckner DE Yes
8 Titans Jack Conklin T No
9 Bears Leonard Floyd OLB Yes
10 Saints (Giants) Eli Apple CB No
11 Buccaneers Vernon Hargreaves III CB Yes
12 Saints Sheldon Rankins DT Yes
13 Dolphins Laremy Tunsil T Yes
14 Raiders Karl Joseph S No
15 Browns Corey Coleman WR Released
16 Lions Taylor Decker T Yes
17 Falcons Keanu Neal S Yes
18 Colts Ryan Kelly C Yes
19 Bills Shaq Lawson DE No
20 Jets Darron Lee OLB No
21 Texans Will Fuller WR Yes
22 Commanders Josh Doctson WR No
23 Vikings Laquon Treadwell WR No
24 Bengals William Jackson III CB Yes
25 Steelers Artie Burns CB No
26 Broncos Paxton Lynch QB Released
27 Packers Kenny Clark DT Yes
28 49ers Joshua Garnett G No
29 Cardinals Robert Nkemdiche DT No
30 Panthers Vernon Butler DT No
31 Seahawks Germain Ifedi G No

2017

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Browns Myles Garrett DE Yes
2 Bears Mitchell Trubisky QB No
3 49ers Solomon Thomas DE No
4 Jaguars Leonard Fournette RB No
5 Titans Corey Davis WR No
6 Jets Jamal Adams S Yes
7 Chargers Mike Williams WR Yes
8 Panthers Christian McCaffrey RB Extension
9 Bengals John Ross WR No
10 Chiefs Patrick Mahomes QB Yes
11 Saints Marshon Lattimore CB Yes
12 Texans Deshaun Watson QB Yes
13 Cardinals Haason Reddick LB No
14 Eagles Derek Barnett DE Yes
15 Colts Malik Hooker S No
16 Ravens Marlon Humphrey CB Yes
17 Commanders Jonathan Allen DE Yes
18 Titans Adoree' Jackson CB Yes
19 Buccaneers O.J. Howard TE Yes
20 Broncos Garett Bolles T No
21 Lions Jarrad Davis LB No
22 Falcons (Dolphins) Charles Harris OLB No
23 Giants Evan Engram TE Yes
24 Texans (Raiders) Gareon Conley CB No
25 Giants (Browns) Jabrill Peppers S Yes
26 Falcons Takkarist McKinley DE No
27 Bills Tre'Davious White CB Yes
28 Cowboys Taco Charlton DE Released
29 Browns David Njoku TE Yes
30 Steelers T.J. Watt OLB Yes
31 49ers Reuben Foster LB Released
32 Saints Ryan Ramczyk T Yes

2018

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Browns Baker Mayfield QB Yes
2 Giants Saquon Barkley RB Yes
3 Panthers (Jets) Sam Darnold QB Yes
4 Browns Denzel Ward CB Yes
5 Broncos Bradley Chubb DE Yes
6 Colts Quenton Nelson G Yes
7 Bills Josh Allen QB Yes
8 Bears Roquan Smith ILB Yes
9 49ers Mike McGlinchey T Yes
10 Cardinals Josh Rosen QB Released
11 Steelers (Dolphins) Minkah Fitzpatrick S Yes
12 Buccaneers Vita Vea DT Yes
13 Commanders Daron Payne DT Yes
14 Saints Marcus Davenport DE Yes
15 Raiders Kolton Miller T Extension
16 Bills Tremaine Edmunds ILB Yes
17 Chargers Derwin James S Yes
18 Packers Jaire Alexander CB Yes
19 Cowboys Leighton Vander Esch OLB No
20 Lions Frank Ragnow C Yes
21 Bengals Billy Price C No
22 Titans Rashaan Evans ILB No
23 Patriots Isaiah Wynn T Yes
24 Panthers D.J. Moore WR Yes
25 Falcons (Ravens) Hayden Hurst TE No
26 Falcons Calvin Ridley WR Yes
27 Seahawks Rashaad Penny RB No
28 Steelers Terrell Edmunds S No
29 Jaguars Taven Bryan DT No
30 Vikings Mike Hughes CB No
31 Patriots Sony Michel RB No
32 Ravens Lamar Jackson QB Yes

2019

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Cardinals Kyler Murray QB Yes
2 49ers Nick Bosa DE Yes
3 Jets Quinnen Williams DT Yes
4 Raiders Clelin Ferrell DE No
5 Buccaneers Devin White LB Yes
6 Giants Daniel Jones QB No
7 Jaguars Josh Allen LB Yes
8 Lions T.J. Hockenson TE Yes
9 Bills Ed Oliver DT Yes
10 Steelers Devin Bush Jr. LB No
11 Bengals Jonah Williams G Yes
12 Packers Rashan Gary LB Yes
13 Dolphins Christian Wilkins DT Yes
14 Falcons Chris Lindstrom G Yes
15 Commanders Dwayne Haskins QB Released
16 Panthers Brian Burns DE Yes
17 Giants Dexter Lawrence DT Yes
18 Vikings Garrett Bradbury C No
19 Titans Jeffery Simmons DT Yes
20 Seahawks (Broncos) Noah Fant TE Yes
21 Packers Darnell Savage Jr. S Yes
22 Eagles Andre Dillard T No
23 Texans Tytus Howard T Yes
24 Raiders Josh Jacobs RB No
25 Cardinals (Ravens) Marquise Brown WR Yes
26 Commanders Montez Sweat DE Yes
27 Raiders Johnathan Abram S No
28 Chargers Jerry Tillery DT No
29 Seahawks L.J. Collier DE No
30 Giants Deandre Baker CB Released
31 Falcons Kaleb McGary T No
32 Patriots N'Keal Harry WR No

2020

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Bengals Joe Burrow QB Yes
2 Commanders Chase Young DE No
3 Falcons (Lions) Jeff Okudah CB Ineligible
4 Giants Andrew Thomas T Yes
5 Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa QB Yes
6 Chargers Justin Herbert QB Yes
7 Panthers Derrick Brown DT Yes
8 Cardinals Isaiah Simmons LB No
9 Panthers (Jaguars) C.J. Henderson CB No
10 Browns Jedrick Wills Jr. T Yes
11 Jets Mekhi Becton T No
12 Raiders Henry Ruggs III WR Released
13 Buccaneers Tristan Wirfs T Yes
14 49ers Javon Kinlaw DT No
15 Broncos Jerry Jeudy WR Yes
16 Falcons AJ Terrell CB Yes
17 Cowboys CeeDee Lamb WR Yes
18 Dolphins Austin Jackson T No
19 Raiders Damon Arnette CB Released
20 Jaguars K'Lavon Chaisson DE No
21 Vikings (Eagles) Jalen Reagor WR No
22 Vikings Justin Jefferson WR Yes
23 Chargers Kenneth Murray LB No
24 Saints Cesar Ruiz C No
25 49ers Brandon Aiyuk WR Yes
26 Packers Jordan Love QB Extension
27 Seahawks Jordyn Brooks LB No
28 Ravens Patrick Queen LB No
29 Titans Isaiah Wilson T Released
30 Dolphins Noah Igbinoghene CB No
31 Vikings Jeff Gladney CB Released
32 Chiefs Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB No

2021

Pick Team (Draft team) Player Position Option Picked Up?
1 Jaguars Trevor Lawrence QB Yes
2 Broncos (Jets) Zach Wilson QB --
3 Cowboys (49ers) Trey Lance QB --
4 Falcons Kyle Pitts TE Yes
5 Bengals Ja'Marr Chase WR Yes
6 Dolphins Jaylen Waddle WR Yes
7 Lions Penei Sewell OL Yes
8 Panthers Jaycee Horn DB Yes
9 Broncos Patrick Surtain II DB Yes
10 Eagles DeVonta Smith WR Yes
11 Steelers (Bears) Justin Fields QB --
12 Cowboys Micah Parsons LB Yes
13 Chargers Rashawn Slater OL --
14 Jets Alijah Vera-Tucker OL Yes
15 Jaguars (Patriots) Mac Jones QB --
16 Cardinals Zaven Collins LB No
17 Raiders Alex Leatherwood OL Released
18 Dolphins Jaelan Phillips DL Yes
19 Commanders Jamin Davis LB --
20 Chiefs (Giants) Kadarius Toney WR --
21 Colts Kwity Paye DL --
22 Titans Caleb Farley DB --
23 Vikings Christian Darrisaw OL Yes
24 Steelers Najee Harris RB No
25 Jaguars Travis Etienne RB Yes
26 Browns Greg Newsome II DB Yes
27 Ravens Rashod Bateman WR Extension
28 Saints Payton Turner DE --
29 Packers Eric Stokes DB --
30 Bills Gregory Rousseau DL Yes
31 Ravens Odafe Oweh DE Yes
32 Buccaneers Joe Tryon-Shoyinka OLB --

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.