Now that the 2023 NFL draft is over, the deadline for NFL teams to pick up fifth-year options on rookie contracts for 2020 first-round draft picks is here.
The Green Bay Packers had an interesting decision with QB Jordan Love, the 2020 No. 26 overall pick. Were they going to pick up the option on an unproven player? Well yes, and no. The two sides on Tuesday agreed to a one-year contract extension worth up to $22.5 million (including $13.5 million fully guaranteed), a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The agreement was reached just hours before Tuesday’s fifth-year option deadline. If they had picked up the fifth year option on Love, the Packers would have owed him more in guaranteed money in 2024.
Jeff Okudah, the No. 3 overall pick in 2020, is not eligible for a fifth-year option after being traded to the Atlanta Falcons from the Detroit Lions last month and having his contract restructured, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.
In addition, three 2020 first-round draft picks are no longer in the NFL and are not eligible: No. 12 Henry Ruggs III, No. 19 Damon Arnette and No. 29 Isaiah Wilson. The No. 31 overall pick, Jeff Gladney, died in a car accident last May.
Below, we are tracking all of the picked up and declined options for the 2020 class.
What is a fifth-year option?
According to OverTheCap.com, the 2020 collective bargaining agreement allows for teams to exercise a fifth-year option for players drafted in the first round as an addition to the standard four-year rookie contract. Upon being exercised, the fifth-year option is fully guaranteed, and any base salary in the player’s fourth year that was not fully guaranteed will become so. The fifth-year salary is calculated based on four tiers: Basic, playtime, one Pro Bowl, multiple Pro Bowls.
Picked up fifth-year options
No. 1 overall pick: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals picked up the option for 2020’s No. 1 overall pick — no surprise there as he has led the team to Super Bowl LVI and the AFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons.
No. 4: Andrew Thomas, OT, New York Giants
The Giants picked up the fifth-year option on the left tackle. Thomas has developed into one of the NFL’s best left tackles and is now under contract for 2024 at $14.175 million.
No. 5: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins announced in March that they would pick up Tagovailoa’s option after the QB suffered multiple concussions in 2022. The No. 5 pick in 2020 enters the fourth year of his rookie contract in 2023 and stands to make a fully guaranteed $23.4 million in 2024.
No. 6: Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have exercised the fifth-year option on Herbert’s contract. The sixth-overall pick in 2020, Herbert is scheduled to earn $4.23 million and $29.5 million in the final two seasons of his rookie deal.
No. 7: Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers
The No. 7 overall pick in 2020 had his fifth-year option picked up by the Panthers on Monday.
No. 10: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Cleveland Browns
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Browns are picking up the fifth-year option on Wills. This guarantees a salary of $14.175 million for 2024 for the former No. 10 overall pick.
No. 13: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers announced that they have picked up the fifth-year option on Wirfs’ rookie contract.
No. 15: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos will exercise Jeudy’s option; he will now earn $12.98 million in 2024, which will be the fifth, and final, year of his rookie deal.
No. 16: A.J. Terrell, CB, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons announce they picked up the option for Terrell over the weekend. The Falcons will owe the former No. 16 pick $12.34 million in 2024.
No. 17: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys picked up Lamb’s option in April, locking him, their first-round pick in 2020, into a salary of $17.99 million in 2024.
No. 22: Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are exercising the fifth-year option of their All-Pro receiver. The fifth-year option is worth $19.743 million.
No. 25: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers picked up Aiyuk’s option, and if he doesn’t sign a contract extension before the 2024 season, he would be due $14.12 million that year.
Declined fifth-year options
No. 2 overall pick: Chase Young, DE, Washington Commanders
The Commanders won’t pick up the fifth-year option on Young, making him a possible free agent after this season.
No. 9: CJ Henderson, CB, Carolina Panthers
Carolina has declined Henderson’s fifth-year option. Henderson was drafted No. 9 overall by the Jaguars in 2020 and traded to the Panthers in 2021.
No. 14: Javon Kinlaw, DT, San Francisco 49ers
While the 49ers have exercised Aiyuk’s option, they will not pick up Kinlaw’s option. The 2020 No. 14 overall pick has struggled to stay healthy and produce on the defensive line.
No. 23: Kenneth Murray Jr., ILB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers GM Tom Telesco said last week that they will not exercise Murray’s fifth-year option.
No. 24: Cesar Ruiz, C, New Orleans Saints
According to ESPN’s Jeremey Fowler, the Saints are declining the fifth-year option for the 2020 No. 24 overall pick.
No. 27: Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are declining their fifth-year option on the starting inside linebacker, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
No. 28: Patrick Queen, OLB, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have declined to pick up Queen’s fifth-year option, a source told ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
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Recap
Which 2020 first-rounders had their fifth-year options accepted and which were declined? A tracking report.
The deadline for NFL teams to pick up fifth-year options on rookie contracts for 2020 first-round draft picks has passed. The Green Bay Packers had an interesting decision with QB Jordan Love, as they agreed to a one-year contract extension worth up to $22.5 million instead of picking up the fifth-year option, which would have owed him more in guaranteed money in 2024. Some notable players whose options were picked up include Joe Burrow, Andrew Thomas, and Tua Tagovailoa, while some whose options were declined include Chase Young and Patrick Queen.
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