The deadline for NFL teams to pick up fifth-year options on the rookie contracts of 2023 first-round draft picks is Friday.
Teams have to decide whether to keep the 31 players below for a fifth season. If the team declines the option, 2026 will be the last season on the rookie contract, making the player a free agent in 2027. If the option is picked up, the player remains under contract for 2027.
We are tracking the entire 2023 class -- which had only 31 picks after the Miami Dolphins were stripped of their first-round selection for violations of league policies relating to the integrity of the game -- and updating as teams make their decisions.
What is a fifth-year option?
According to OverTheCap.com, the 2020 collective bargaining agreement allows teams to exercise a fifth-year option for players drafted in the first round as an addition to the standard four-year rookie contract. 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. The fifth-year salary is calculated based on four tiers: basic, playing time, one Pro Bowl and multiple Pro Bowls.
The 2023 first-round draft class
No. 1 pick: Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers will pick up the fifth-year option on Young and discuss whether a contract extension makes sense from the "big-picture view,'' general manager Dan Morgan said in January. The option keeps the top pick of the 2023 draft under contract through 2027, when he'll be guaranteed $26.5 million.
No. 2: C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
The Texans have exercised Stroud's option, a source told ESPN's Field Yates. Stroud will earn $25.9 million in 2027.
No. 3: Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Texans
The Texans exercised Anderson's option which would have paid him $21.5 million in 2027. However, the Texans and the All-Pro agreed to a three-year, $150 million extension that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal includes $134 million in guaranteed money, the source said.
No. 4: Anthony Richardson Sr., QB, Indianapolis Colts
No. 5: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks exercised Witherspoon's option in March. Seattle is expected to discuss a long-term extension with the cornerback. The option for Witherspoon is expected to be worth approximately $21.2 million, according to OverTheCap.com.
No. 6: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have picked up Johnson's option for an estimated $19 million for the 2027 season.
No. 7: Tyree Wilson, Edge, New Orleans Saints
The Saints acquired Wilson in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, who drafted him in 2023, during the 2026 NFL draft.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Saints are declining his fifth-year option -- which will make Wilson a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.
No. 8: Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons picked up Robinson's fifth-year option. Robinson was fourth in the league in rushing yards (1,478) and led the league in scrimmage yards (2,298) this past season. The latter total was a Falcons franchise record.
The Falcons picking up the option is a formality. Adam Schefter reported last month that there is an expectation that Robinson will get a contract extension this offseason.
No. 9: Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are exercising Carter's option. He will earn an estimated $27 million in 2027.
No. 10: Darnell Wright, OT, Chicago Bears
The Bears are picking up the fifth-year option for the All-Pro offensive tackle, a source confirmed to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. He will make an estimated $19.072 million in 2027, according to OverTheCap.
No. 11: Peter Skoronski, G, Tennessee Titans
The Titans are exercising the right guard's option, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The fifth-year option earns Skoronski $19.07 million.
No. 12: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
The Lions will exercise the fifth-year option for their star running back, which is valued at $14.29 million for 2027. The Lions are still working on an extension for Gibbs.
No. 13: Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Green Bay Packers
The Packers are picking up the option for Van Ness, who is now expected to make $13.8 million, fully guaranteed, in 2027.
No. 14: Broderick Jones, OT, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are declining Jones' fifth-year option, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Thursday night. Jones, who turns 25 next month, sustained a season-ending neck injury in the Week 12 loss to the Bears and had offseason surgery.
It's unclear if he'll be able to return by training camp or the start of the season, and sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Jones had a setback in his recovery a week prior to the 2026 NFL draft.
No. 15: Will McDonald IV, Edge, New York Jets
The Jets exercised McDonald's fifth-year option. He had 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons and is projected to receive $13.8 million in 2027.
No. 16: Emmanuel Forbes Jr, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Forbes was drafted by the Commanders but was waived in 2024 and picked up by the Rams.
No. 17: Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots
The Patriots picked up Gonzalez's $18.1 million option for 2027. The team is also also in contract extension negotiations with the cornerback.
No. 18: Jack Campbell, LB, Lions
The Lions won't exercise the All-Pro linebacker's option, estimated to be $21.925 million for 2027-- which would've been more than the NFL's highest-paid off-ball linebacker. Detroit is still looking to secure Campbell with a contract extension.
No. 19: Calijah Kancey, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers picked up Kancey's option, which is estimated at $14.4 million for 2027.
No. 20: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks
The Seahawks exercised Smith-Njigba's fifth-year option for 2027 -- worth approximately $23.9 million. A week later, Seattle signed him to a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. With this new agreement, the two-time Pro Bowl selection is contractually tied to Seattle through the 2031 season.
No. 21: Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have picked up the fifth-year option for Johnston. OverTheCap estimates he'll earn $18 million in 2027.
No. 22: Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens picked up the receiver's option, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. Flowers is now scheduled to earn $27.3 million in 2027.
No. 23: Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have exercised Addison's fifth-year option, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski said. Addison will earn $2.6 million in 2026 and is now on the books for $18 million in 2027.
No. 24: Deonte Banks, CB, New York Giants
No. 25: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
According to general manager Brandon Beane, the Bills have picked up the fifth-year option on Kincaid -- which would pay him $8.1 million for the 2027 season.
No. 26: Mazi Smith, DT, Jets
The Jets declined Smith's fifth-year option. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys but was traded to the Jets at the 2025 trade deadline in a package for Quinnen Williams.
No. 27: Anton Harrison, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars general manager James Gladstone announced the team will be exercising Harrison's option, which is estimated at $19 million.
No. 28: Myles Murphy, Edge, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have declined the fifth-year option on Murphy, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Thursday. However, this decision doesn't mean the Bengals want to move on from Murphy, who is coming off his best season to date. In 2025, he had 5.5 sacks and was a bright spot on a defense that struggled.
No. 29: Bryan Bresee, DT, Saints
No. 30: Nolan Smith Jr., Edge, Eagles
The Eagles are exercising the pass rusher's option. He will earn an estimated $13.7 million in 2027.
