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.

2023 First Round Class

* fifth year option was exercised
PickPlayerTeamPositionBasicPlaytime1 Pro Bowl>1 Pro Bowl
1Bryce YoungPanthersQB$22,934,000$26,527,000$39,720,000$46,073,000
2C.J. StroudTexansQB$22,934,000$26,527,000$39,720,000$46,073,000
3Will Anderson Jr.TexansEDGE (DE)$13,606,000$15,259,000$22,299,000$26,595,000
4Anthony RichardsonColtsQB$22,934,000$26,527,000$39,720,000$46,073,000
5Devon WitherspoonSeahawksCB$11,720,000$12,764,000$17,543,000$20,850,000
6Paris Johnson Jr.CardinalsRT (OL)$18,858,000$19,949,000$24,631,000$27,188,000
7Tyree WilsonRaidersEDGE (DE)$13,606,000$15,259,000$22,299,000$26,595,000
8Bijan RobinsonFalconsRB$6,811,000$7,539,000$11,401,000$14,143,000
9Jalen CarterEaglesIDL (DT)$12,965,000$14,322,000$20,993,000$25,602,000
10Darnell WrightBearsRT (OL)$18,858,000$19,949,000$24,631,000$27,188,000
11Peter SkoronskiTitansLG (OL)$18,858,000$19,949,000$24,631,000$27,188,000
12Jahmyr GibbsLionsRB$6,811,000$7,539,000$11,401,000$14,143,000
13Lukas Van NessPackersEDGE (LB)$14,949,000$16,334,000$22,990,000$27,454,000
14Broderick JonesSteelersLT (OL)$18,858,000$19,949,000$24,631,000$27,188,000
15Will McDonald IVJetsEDGE (LB)$14,949,000$16,334,000$22,990,000$27,454,000
16Emmanuel ForbesRamsCB$11,720,000$12,764,000$17,543,000$20,850,000
17Christian GonzalezPatriotsCB$11,720,000$12,764,000$17,543,000$20,850,000
18Jack CampbellLionsLB$14,949,000$16,334,000$22,990,000$27,454,000
19Calijah KanceyBuccaneersIDL (DE)$13,606,000$15,259,000$22,299,000$26,595,000
20Jaxon Smith-NjigbaSeahawksWR$15,840,000$17,510,000$24,361,000$28,046,000
21Quentin JohnstonChargersWR$15,840,000$17,510,000$24,361,000$28,046,000
22Zay FlowersRavensWR$15,840,000$17,510,000$24,361,000$28,046,000
23Jordan AddisonVikingsWR$15,840,000$17,510,000$24,361,000$28,046,000
24Deonte BanksGiantsCB$11,720,000$12,764,000$17,543,000$20,850,000
25Dalton KincaidBillsTE$8,742,000$9,721,000$13,474,000$15,833,000
26Mazi SmithJetsIDL (DT)$12,965,000$14,322,000$20,993,000$25,602,000
27Anton HarrisonJaguarsRT (OL)$18,858,000$19,949,000$24,631,000$27,188,000
28Myles MurphyBengalsEDGE (DE)$13,606,000$15,259,000$22,299,000$26,595,000
29Bryan BreseeSaintsIDL (DT)$12,965,000$14,322,000$20,993,000$25,602,000
30Nolan SmithEaglesEDGE (LB)$14,949,000$16,334,000$22,990,000$27,454,000
31Felix Anudike-UzomahChiefsEDGE (DE)$13,606,000$15,259,000$22,299,000$26,595,000