5th-Year Option Tracker

This offseason has been decision time for the teams that selected a football player in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Each of those teams have had to decide whether to pick up the 5th-year option on those rookie contracts. The Carolina Panthers dodged that decision by signing Christian McCaffrey to big new deal. A few other teams dodged it by either trading the player that they selected (Browns, Raiders, and Dolphins) or simply releasing the player (Cowboys, Dolphins, and 49ers). Those dodgers passed the decision to other teams.

The Minnesota Vikings didn't have a 5th-year option decision to make as they didn't have a first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Their first pick was in the second round when they selected running back Dalvin Cook. That makes this one of those occasions in which it would be nice if the 5th-year option extended into the second round.

The deadline for teams to make their decisions on the 5th-year options was yesterday. The following are the decisions that each team made.

5th-Year Option Tracker

1.   Cleveland Browns-Myles Garrett-Picked up
2.   Chicago Bears-Mitchell Trubisky-Declined
3.   San Francisco 49ers-Solomon Thomas-Declined
4.   Jacksonville Jaguars-Leonard Fournette-Declined
5.   Tennessee Titans-Corey Davis-Declined
6.   New York Jets-Jamal Adams-Picked up
7.   Los Angeles Chargers-Mike Williams-Picked up
8.   Carolina Panthers-Christian McCaffrey-Already signed an extension
9.   Cincinnati Bengals-John Ross-Declined
10. Kansas City Chiefs-Patrick Mahomes II-Picked up
11. New Orleans Saints-Marshon Lattimore-Picked up
12. Houston Texans-DeShaun Watson-Picked up
13. Arizona Cardinals-Haason Reddick-Declined
14. Philadelphia Eagles-Derek Barnett-Picked up
15. Indianapolis Colts-Malik Hooker-Declined
16. Baltimore Ravens-Marlon Humphrey-Picked up
17. Washington Redskins-Jonathan Allen-Picked up
18. Tennessee Titans-Adoree' Jackson-Picked up
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-O.J. Howard-Picked up
20. Denver Broncos-Garrett Bolles-Declined
21. Detroit Lions-Jarrad Davis-Declined
22. Miami Dolphins-Charles Harris-Declined
23. New York Giants-Evan Engram-Picked up
24. Oakland Raiders-Gareon Conley-Declined
25. Cleveland Browns-Jabrill Peppers-Picked up
26. Atlanta Falcons-Takkarist McKinley-Declined
27. Buffalo Bills-Tre'Davious White-Picked up
28. Dallas Cowboys-Taco Charlton-Released. Twice. Different Teams.
29. Cleveland Browns-David Njoku-Picked up
30. Pittsburgh Steelers-T.J. Watt-Picked up
31. San Francisco 49ers-Rueben Foster-Declined
32. New Orleans Saints-Ryan Ramczyk-Picked up

#22-The Dolphins traded Charles Harris to the Falcons on Friday. The Falcons declined to pick up his 5th-year option.

#24-The Raiders traded Gareon Conley to the Texans during the 2019 season. The Texans declined to pick up his 5th-year option.

#25-The Browns traded Jabrill Peppers to the Giants last year. The Giants picked up his 5th-year option.

#28- Taco Charlton was released by the Cowboys last year and subsequently claimed by the Dolphins. He was released by the Dolphins last week, voiding his option. He was signed by the Chiefs on Friday and they had no option decision to make.

#31-The 49ers released Rueben Foster. The Redskins picked him up. The Redskins declined to pick up his 5th-year option.

The 5th-year option decision shouldn't be the final statement on the respective careers of these players. It's still not a good look that four of the first five players selected in the 2017 NFL Draft had their options declined.

Estimated 5th-year option values:
Picks 1-10
QB: $24.837M
RB: $8.483M
WR: $15.68M
TE: $9.117M
OL: $13.505M

DE: $15.184M
DT: $13.143M
LB: $13.737M
CB: $14.19M
   S: $9.86M

P/K: $4.559M

Picks 11-32
QB: $17.54M
RB: $5.204M
WR: $10.926M
TE: $6.013M
OL: $11.064M

DE: $10.051M
DT: $8.255M
LB: $10.089M
CB: $10.244M
   S: $6.77M

P/K: $3.519M

What a difference a single pick makes. Every team with the 10th pick in each draft has to consider trading down even a single pick.

I've never understood the NFL's insistence in combining the offensive line positions when it comes to calculating tender and option values. Guards might be gaining on tackles when it comes to contracts but they still lag behind. Centers are even further behind. Why not separate them? They separate the defensive line positions. It's only math.