What is the NFL fifth-year option? Tiers, list of candidates for 2026
What is the NFL fifth-year option? Tiers, list of candidates for 2026
Nick Brinkerhoff, USA TODAYSun, March 22, 2026 at 7:08 PM UTC
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How about one more trip around the sun?
That is the goal for every player in the NFL, regardless of experience. Rookies hope they get a sophomore season, just as the 10-year veteran hopes there will be an 11th. In a year-to-year league like the NFL, nothing is ever guaranteed.
However, players who are selected early in the NFL draft can't always relate. Contracts are fully guaranteed for the first-round picks, ensuring that they receive four trips around the NFL sun – or at least get paid for it.
Some of them will receive a fifth year before turning the page to a new deal. It's the chance to extend the arrangement between player and team for at least one more year, marking another deadline on the NFL calendar. This year, the deadline to exercise the fifth-year option for 2023 first-round picks is May 1.
The Seattle Seahawks have already picked up the option for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon – two of the 31 players that can have a fifth-year added onto their rookie deal this year. It's almost decision time for the others.
Here's what to know about the NFL's fifth-year option:
1 / 02026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)
What is the NFL fifth-year option?
The NFL currently operates under the 2020 collective bargaining agreement that is valid through the 2030 season. Article 7, Section 7 (g) of that agreement stipulates that a team can exercise a fifth-year option for all first-round draft picks.
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That option means a team can keep its first-round pick for one extra year without agreeing to an extension. That fifth year's salary is fully guaranteed. All rookies who are drafted sign four-year contracts and the fifth-year option is for first-round picks only.
Teams must decide on fifth-year options after a first-round rookie has played three full seasons in the NFL. That's why the 2023 NFL draft class is up for fifth-year options this offseason, and if teams pick them up, the players will be under contract through the 2027 NFL season.
Fifth-year option tiers
There are four different tiers of fifth-year salaries for teams to use, ranked from lowest to highest salary:
Basic: The lowest-tier salary is calculated by averaging the contracts ranked third- to 25th-highest at the position league-wide over the past five seasons. This tier is for players who have:
Played less than 75% of possible snaps in two of first three seasons in the NFL, or
Averaged less than 75% of possible snaps over their first three seasons, or
Played less than 50% of possible snaps over all three seasons.
Playtime: The second-lowest salary is calculated by averaging the contracts ranked third- to 20th-highest at the position league-wide over the past five seasons. This tier is for players who have:
Played 75% or more of possible snaps in two of their first three seasons in the NFL, or
Averaged 75% or more of possible snaps over their first three seasons, or
Played 50% or more of possible snaps total over all three seasons.
One Pro Bowl: The second-highest salary is for players who were named to one Pro Bowl over their first three seasons as a primary choice, not as an alternate. The salary is equal to the transition tag for the position.
Multiple Pro Bowls: The highest salary is for players who have made two or three Pro Bowls over their first three seasons as a primary choice, not as an alternate. The salary is equal to the franchise tag for the position.
Who is eligible for a fifth-year option in 2026?
All 31 of the first-round picks from the 2023 NFL draft are eligible for fifth-year options. The first round featured one less pick in 2023 because the Miami Dolphins were forced to forfeit their selection (No. 21 overall) following an investigation into tampering.
Here's which option each player would receive and the dollar amount, per OverTheCap:
QB Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers: Playtime option, $25.904 million
QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: Playtime option, $25.904 million
Edge Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans: One Pro Bowl option, $21.512 million
QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: Basic option, $22.483 million
**CB Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks: Multiple Pro Bowls option, $21.161 million
OT Paris Johnson Jr., Arizona Cardinals: Playtime option, $19.072 million
Edge Tyree Wilson, Las Vegas Raiders: Basic option, $14.475 million
RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: One Pro Bowl option, $11.323 million
DT Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles: Multiple Pro Bowls option, $27.127 million
OT Darnell Wright, Chicago Bears: Playtime option, $19.072 million
OG Peter Skoronski, Tennessee Titans: Playtime option, $19.072 million
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions: Multiple Pro Bowls option, $14.293 million
Edge Lukas Van Ness, Green Bay Packers: Basic option, $13.752 million
OT Broderick Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers: Playtime option, $19.072 million
Edge Will McDonald IV, New York Jets: Basic option, $13.752 million
CB Emmanuel Forbes, Los Angeles Rams (drafted and traded by the Washington Commanders): Basic option, $12.633 million
CB Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots: One Pro Bowl option, $18.119 million
LB Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions: One Pro Bowl option, $21.925 million
DE Calijah Kancey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Basic option, $14.475 million
**WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks: One Pro Bowl option, $23.852 million
WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers: Playtime option, $18 million
WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens: Multiple Pro Bowls option, $27.298 million
WR Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings: Playtime option, $18 million
CB Deonte Banks, New York Giants: Basic option, $12.633 million
TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills: Basic option, $8.162 million
DT Mazi Smith, New York Jets (drafted and traded by the Dallas Cowboys): Basic option, $13.931 million
OT Anton Harrison, Jacksonville Jaguars: Playtime option, $19.072 million
Edge Myles Murphy, Cincinnati Bengals: Basic option, $14.475 million
DT Bryan Bresee, New Orleans Saints: Basic option, $13.931 million
Edge Nolan Smith, Philadelphia Eagles: Basic option, $13.752 million
Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas City Chiefs: Basic option, $14.475 million
** denotes that team exercised option
USA TODAY's Ayrton Ostly contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL fifth-year option, explained: Eligible players, salaries for 2026
Source: “AOL Sports”
