What’s the NFL Fifth-Year Option? Value, Criteria, Deadline

As teams increase their NFL odds of winning a Super Bowl, key players on rookie contracts can be extremely helpful with roster construction.

But those contracts only last so long, which forces franchises to make critical decisions about how to move forward.

What’s the Fifth-Year Option?

The fifth-year option on rookie contracts gives teams the choice to extend that deal from four years to five.

All drafted rookies sign four-year deals when they enter the league.

Only players drafted in the first round have fifth-year options.

How Much is a Fifth-Year Option?

According to Over the Cap, the money paid out for a rookie contract fifth-year option depends on a tier system. Which tier a player falls under depends on playing time and Pro Bowl selections.

For example, Packers quarterback Jordan Love has played in just 10 games with one start in his career thus far. That means he would be eligible for a fifth-year option that would be the average of the third- to 25th-highest paid salaries at quarterback over the past five seasons. 

The fifth-year option for quarterbacks in this tier drafted in 2019 would’ve been $19.6 million.

Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson is another example. He would be in the top tier because he’s earned a spot in multiple Pro Bowls.

Jefferson’s fifth-year option would become the equivalent of a franchise tag which factors in the average of the top five salaries of his position. The franchise tag value for wide receivers in 2023 is expected to be about $19.9 million. 

Fifth-Year Option Deadline in 2023

Teams must decide whether they will exercise the fifth-year options for the contracts of first-round selections in the 2020 NFL Draft by May 1, 2023. Teams could begin making that decision on Jan. 9, 2023.

2020 NFL Draft Picks Eligible for Fifth-Year Option in 2023