Fifth Year Option Projections

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. Article 7, Section 7(g) provides for four different tiers of salary for the fifth year option, calculated as follows:

  • Basic: Players who do not meet any of the requirements below will be eligible for a fifth year base salary calculated from the average of the 3rd to 25th highest salaries at their position over the past five seasons.

  • Playtime: These players will be eligible for a fifth year base salary calculated from the average of the 3rd to 20th highest salaries at their position over the past five seasons, provided that their snap counts over their first three seasons meet one of the following three criteria:

    • 75% or greater in two of their first three seasons
    • an average of 75% or greater over all three seasons
    • 50% or greater over all three seasons
  • One Pro Bowl: Players who are named to exactly one Pro Bowl on the original ballot (not as an alternate) will be eligible for a fifth year base salary equal to the transition tender at their position.

  • Multiple Pro Bowls: Players who are named to two or three Pro Bowls on the original ballot (not as an alternate) will be eligible for a fifth year base salary equal to the franchise tender at their position.

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.

Article 10, Section 7(a) groups all offensive linemen together, and uses antiquated designations for interior defensive linemen and edge rushers. IDL are separated to defensive tackle and defensive end, even if the player is an edge rusher in a 4-3 defense, while edge rushers in a 3-4 defense are considered linebackers. In these cases, this designation is shown in parentheses.

2021 First Round Class

* fifth year option was exercised
PickPlayerTeamPositionBasicPlaytime1 Pro Bowl>1 Pro Bowl
1Trevor LawrenceJaguarsQB$22,408,000$25,664,000$34,367,000$38,301,000
2Zach WilsonJetsQB$22,408,000$25,664,000$34,367,000$38,301,000
3Trey LanceCowboysQB$22,408,000$25,664,000$34,367,000$38,301,000
4Kyle PittsFalconsTE$7,209,000$7,960,000$10,878,000$12,693,000
5Ja'Marr ChaseBengalsWR$14,345,000$15,591,000$19,766,000$21,816,000
6Jaylen WaddleDolphinsWR$14,345,000$15,591,000$19,766,000$21,816,000
7Penei SewellLionsRT (OL)$15,313,000$16,037,000$19,040,000$20,985,000
8Jaycee HornPanthersCB$12,472,000$13,377,000$17,215,000$19,802,000
9Patrick Surtain IIBroncosCB$12,472,000$13,377,000$17,215,000$19,802,000
10DeVonta SmithEaglesWR$14,345,000$15,591,000$19,766,000$21,816,000
11Justin FieldsSteelersQB$22,408,000$25,664,000$34,367,000$38,301,000
12Micah ParsonsCowboysEDGE (DE)$13,387,000$14,583,000$19,076,000$21,324,000
13Rashawn SlaterChargersLT (OL)$15,313,000$16,037,000$19,040,000$20,985,000
14Alijah Vera-TuckerJetsRT (OL)$15,313,000$16,037,000$19,040,000$20,985,000
15Mac JonesJaguarsQB$22,408,000$25,664,000$34,367,000$38,301,000
16Zaven CollinsCardinalsEDGE (LB)$13,251,000$14,483,000$19,971,000$24,007,000
18Jaelan PhillipsDolphinsEDGE (LB)$13,251,000$14,483,000$19,971,000$24,007,000
19Jamin DavisCommandersLB$13,251,000$14,483,000$19,971,000$24,007,000
20Kadarius ToneyChiefsWR$14,345,000$15,591,000$19,766,000$21,816,000
21Kwity PayeColtsEDGE (DE)$13,387,000$14,583,000$19,076,000$21,324,000
22Caleb FarleyTitansCB$12,472,000$13,377,000$17,215,000$19,802,000
23Christian DarrisawVikingsLT (OL)$15,313,000$16,037,000$19,040,000$20,985,000
24Najee HarrisSteelersRB$6,143,000$6,790,000$9,765,000$11,951,000
25Travis EtienneJaguarsRB$6,143,000$6,790,000$9,765,000$11,951,000
26Greg Newsome IIBrownsCB$12,472,000$13,377,000$17,215,000$19,802,000
27Rashod BatemanRavensWR$14,345,000$15,591,000$19,766,000$21,816,000
28Payton TurnerSaintsEDGE (DE)$13,387,000$14,583,000$19,076,000$21,324,000
29Eric StokesPackersCB$12,472,000$13,377,000$17,215,000$19,802,000
30Gregory RousseauBillsEDGE (DE)$13,387,000$14,583,000$19,076,000$21,324,000
31Odafe OwehRavensEDGE (LB)$13,251,000$14,483,000$19,971,000$24,007,000
32Joe Tryon-ShoyinkaBuccaneersEDGE (LB)$13,251,000$14,483,000$19,971,000$24,007,000