NFL fifth-year player options: Tracking team decisions for 2021 first-rounders

The 2024 NFL Draft is over. Next up on the league’s calendar: Thursday’s deadline for teams to decide whether to exercise the fifth-year options of players drafted in 2021’s first round.

When exercised, these options translate into pay increases for players while keeping them under contract through the 2025 season. The options also help buy teams more evaluation time in advance of contract negotiations. Many teams have already announced their decisions to exercise these options, and some first-round picks from the Class of 2021 have already received long-term extensions.

Here’s a rundown of where each 2021 first-round pick stands. Not included on this list: Offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 17 but cut in August 2022. He is a free agent.

Long-term extensions

Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions

Pick: 7 

Still just 23 years old, Sewell signed a four-year, $112 million extension with the Lions last week, which includes $85 million guaranteed. He is now under contract through 2029 and is the league’s highest-paid offensive lineman at an average annual value of $28 million per year.

DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: 10 

One day after picking up the $15.59 million fifth-year option, the Eagles agreed to sign the wideout (coming off two straight 1,000-yard seasons) to a three-year, $75 million extension with a $20.35 million signing bonus and $51 million guaranteed.

Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Pick: 27 

Bateman received a two-year contract extension last week that will keep him in Baltimore through the 2026 season. He certainly has the ability to be an impactful wide receiver, and the Ravens always need more weapons for Lamar Jackson, but durability and consistency have limited him throughout his first three seasons. Terms of the deal have not been publicized, but his 2025 option was $14.35 million. Committing to this increase or something similar (up from $2.38 million in 2024) is a big leap.

Fifth-year option exercised

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: 1 | 2025 option: $25.66 million

Lawrence has been solid. He has yet to reach an elite level, but he does have a playoff win under his belt and seems likely to continue to ascend under the tutelage of Doug Pederson. The two sides continue discussions toward a long-term deal.

Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

Pick: 4 | 2025 option: $10.88 million

Pitts is poised for a big year with Kirk Cousins now directing a tight-end friendly offense. The former Florida star, who recorded a 1,000-yard season as a rookie, should notch a second after two down years fueled largely by poor quarterback play.

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: 5 | 2025 option: $21.82 million

Chase is one of the best wideouts in the game, with three straight 1,000-yard seasons (two 1,200-plus). Is a record-breaking extension next?

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

Pick: 6 | 2025 option: $15.59 million

Waddle began his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons. Miami expects more of the same in years to come.

Jaycee Horn, CB, Carolina Panthers

Pick: 8 | 2025 option: $12.47 million

Lockdown corners are highly valued, and that’s why the Panthers exercised Horn’s option, with an eye toward extending him beyond 2025.

Pat Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos

Pick: 9 | 2025 option: $19.8 million

The Broncos have parted with offensive players while reshaping the roster, but they are expected to do everything possible to hang on to Surtain, who’s regarded as one of the best defensive backs in the game.

Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Pick: 12 | 2025 option: $21.32 million

Parsons is one of the NFL’s most dominant playmakers. Dallas wisely exercised his option last week and will eventually likely work out an extension.

Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, New York Jets

Pick: 14 | 2025 option: $15.31 million

Vera-Tucker certainly is talented, and a quality offensive line is a high priority for the Jets as they welcome Aaron Rodgers back from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in Week 1. But Vera-Tucker has had season-ending injuries twice in the last three years, so he does have something to prove the next two years.

Jaelan Phillips, edge, Miami Dolphins

Pick: 18 | 2025 option: $13.25 million

Phillips has shown great promise. A torn Achilles tendon ended his 2023 campaign prematurely, so picking up the option made sense. The decision gives him time to prove he can regain top form while the Dolphins continue to evaluate him for a potential multiyear contract extension.

Christian Darrisaw, OT, Minnesota Vikings

Pick: 23 | 2025 option: $16.04 million

Darrisaw is a talented young left tackle who will serve the Vikings and their future franchise quarterback (J.J. McCarthy?) well. Exercising the option was an easy call.

Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: 25 | 2025 option: $6.143 million

Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Etienne is an important part of Jacksonville’s offense, so the option makes plenty of sense.

Greg Rousseau, edge, Buffalo Bills

Pick: 30 | 2025 option: $13.39 million

Rousseau is promising, but not yet dominant, as he enters season No. 4. You can never have too many edge rushers, however, so picking up the option gives him more time to develop and Buffalo more time to evaluate.

Still waiting

Zach Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos (traded from New York Jets)

Pick: 2 | 2025 option: $22.41 million

The Jets traded Wilson and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Broncos last week for a sixth-rounder. After drafting Bo Nix 12th overall, and with an incumbent veteran in Jarrett Stidham, the Broncos are unlikely to pick up Wilson’s option. Instead, he’s probably nothing more than a one-year experimental backup.

Trey Lance, QB, Dallas Cowboys (traded from San Francisco 49ers)

Pick: 3 | 2025 option: $22.41 million

As the Cowboys’ third quarterback, Lance didn’t set foot on the field last season. Dallas is unlikely to exercise the fifth-year option, but the one-time future of the 49ers could stay with the Cowboys in 2025 at a lower price.

Justin Fields, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (traded from Chicago Bears)

Pick: 11 | 2025 option: $25.66 million

Fields may wind up being the quarterback of the future in Pittsburgh depending on how he develops behind Russell Wilson. But the Steelers will likely wait and see how things play out rather than pick up the option.

Rashawn Slater, OT, Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: 13 | 2025 option: $19.04 million

Slater looks like one of the best young left tackles in the game, and the Chargers know they must do everything possible to keep Justin Herbert upright. So, an option and/or extension is coming for Slater.

Mac Jones, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (traded from New England Patriots)

Pick: 15 | 2025 option: $13.25 million

Jones was a low-cost, one-year experimental acquisition as an insurance policy for Lawrence, but the Jaguars can find another backup at a lower cost next season.

Zaven Collins, LB, Arizona Cardinals

Pick: 16 | 2025 option: $13.25 million

Collins flashed here and there as an inside linebacker and last season tried to transition to an edge rusher. He shows some promise, but enough to warrant such a salary? Probably not.

Kadarius Toney, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (traded from New York Giants)

Pick: 20 | 2025 option: $14.35 million

Toney has talent. And given the Rashee Rice situation, Kansas City needs wide receiver help. But Toney is far too unreliable both on and off the field to justify exercising the option.

Kwity Paye, edge, Indianapolis Colts

Pick: 21 | 2025 option: $13.39 million

​​The former Michigan standout is coming off a career-best 8 1/2-sack season and does seem to have potential to further ascend and be a consistently good — not dominant — player. Is it worth picking up the option, which would be a reasonable deal for Indianapolis if Paye notches a double-digit-sack 2024 season? Or should the Colts roll the dice and wait until next year to decide on his future, even if it means competition on the market?

Caleb Farley, CB, Tennessee Titans

Pick: 22 | 2025 option: $12.47 million

Injuries have limited Farley to a combined 12 games (two starts) in three seasons, and he didn’t play at all in 2023. Expect the Titans to decline the option.

Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: 24 | 2025 option: $6.79 million

The run game is extremely important to the Steelers, especially as they try to support their reclamation project quarterback tandem of Russell Wilson and Fields. Running backs always face longevity issues, so extending Harris another season via option will save Pittsburgh from having to make a big multiyear commitment, for now.

Greg Newsome II, CB, Cleveland Browns

Pick: 26 | 2025 option: $13.38 million

Interesting call for the Browns. Newsome hasn’t proven he’s a player worthy of a salary exceeding $10 million per year. But he’s a solid player, and is still growing.

Payton Turner, edge, New Orleans Saints

Pick: 28 | 2025 option: $13.39 million

Turner has never played a full season; an eight-game 2022 showing was his best. He hasn’t shown anything to warrant exercising the option.

Eric Stokes, CB, Green Bay Packers

Pick: 29 | 2025 option: $12.47 million

Stokes has hardly seen the field the last two seasons, so Green Bay will likely decline the option.

Odafe Oweh, edge, Baltimore Ravens

Pick: 31 | 2025 option: $13.25 million

Oweh seemingly was on the rise before an injury derailed his 2023 season. The Ravens are high on him, though, and believe he can further develop into a top pass rusher.

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, edge, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: 32 | 2025 option: $13.25 million

Tryon-Shoyinka has flashed but hasn’t settled into that consistent level of impactful playmaking the Bucs would like. They’ve had some losses on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, so using the option to buy more time for both Tryon-Shoyinka and themselves might be the right call.

Declined

LB Jamin Davis, Washington Commanders

Pick: 19 | 2025 option: $14.48 million

Davis has had a minimal impact in Washington. He did record 104 tackles and three sacks in 2022, but his shortcomings are more plentiful than his impactful moments. Washington was content to decline his option to see if Dan Quinn (a better defensive mind than Jack Del Rio) can position Davis for growth in 2024.

(Top photos of Najee Harris and Kwity Paye: Jane Gershovich and Rob Carr / Getty Images)