The deadline is approaching for NFL groups to select up fifth-year choices on the rookie contracts of 2021 first-round draft picks. Groups should determine whether or not to maintain these gamers for a fifth season by Could 2.
Some groups will signal gamers — like Eagles WR DeVonta Smith — to contract extensions; others will decide up the choice and see if the participant continues to develop; or groups can decline to maintain the participant for a fifth season.
Beneath, we will likely be monitoring all the picked-up and declined choices for the 2021 class.
What’s a fifth-year possibility?
In keeping with OverTheCap.com, the 2020 collective bargaining settlement permits groups to train a fifth-year possibility for gamers drafted within the first spherical as an addition to the usual four-year rookie contract. Upon being exercised, the fifth-year possibility is totally assured, and any base wage within the participant’s fourth 12 months that was not totally assured will develop into so. The fifth-year wage is calculated primarily based on 4 tiers: Primary, taking part in time, one Professional Bowl and a number of Professional Bowls.
The 2021 first-round draft class
Possibility picked up? Sure.
Waddle was a right away success in his debut season, setting an NFL rookie file with 104 catches. He has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in every season, and his 251 profession receptions are the twelfth most for a participant in his first three seasons.
Possibility picked up? Sure.
The Eagles and Smith have agreed to a three-year extension that ties the huge receiver to the crew by way of the 2028 season. Phrases weren’t disclosed, however a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the contract is price $75 million, with $51 million assured. The crew additionally exercised Smith’s fifth-year possibility, which can pay him a wage of round $16 million for the 2025 marketing campaign.
Possibility picked up? Sure.
Phillips set a Dolphins rookie file with 8.5 sacks in 2021 and adopted it with a seven-sack marketing campaign in 2022. He performed solely eight video games final season earlier than an Achilles tendon tear landed him on injured reserve, however he was on tempo for a career-high 14 sacks.
