Fifth Year Option Projections

The 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement allows for teams to exercise a fifth year option for players drafted in the first round as an addition to the standard four year rookie contract. Article 7, Section 7(g) provides for four different tiers of salary for the fifth year option, calculated as follows:

  • Basic: Players who do not meet any of the requirements below will be eligible for a fifth year base salary calculated from the average of the 3rd to 25th highest salaries at their position over the past five seasons.

  • Playtime: These players will be eligible for a fifth year base salary calculated from the average of the 3rd to 20th highest salaries at their position over the past five seasons, provided that their snap counts over their first three seasons meet one of the following three criteria:

    • 75% or greater in two of their first three seasons
    • an average of 75% or greater over all three seasons
    • 50% or greater over all three seasons
  • One Pro Bowl: Players who are named to exactly one Pro Bowl on the original ballot (not as an alternate) will be eligible for a fifth year base salary equal to the transition tender at their position.

  • Multiple Pro Bowls: Players who are named to two or three Pro Bowls on the original ballot (not as an alternate) will be eligible for a fifth year base salary equal to the franchise tender at their position.

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.

Article 10, Section 7(a) groups all offensive linemen together, and uses antiquated designations for interior defensive linemen and edge rushers. IDL are separated to defensive tackle and defensive end, even if the player is an edge rusher in a 4-3 defense, while edge rushers in a 3-4 defense are considered linebackers. In these cases, this designation is shown in parentheses.

2020 First Round Class

* fifth year option was exercised
PickPlayerTeamPositionBasicPlaytime1 Pro Bowl>1 Pro Bowl
1Joe BurrowBengalsQB$20,272,000$23,171,000$29,504,000$32,416,000
2Chase YoungCommandersEDGE (DE)$12,141,000$13,212,000$17,452,000$19,727,000
3Jeff OkudahLionsCB$11,514,000$12,344,000$15,791,000$18,140,000
4Andrew ThomasGiantsLT (OL)$13,565,000$14,175,000$16,660,000$18,244,000
5Tua Tagovailoa*DolphinsQB$20,272,000$23,171,000$29,504,000$32,416,000
6Justin HerbertChargersQB$20,272,000$23,171,000$29,504,000$32,416,000
7Derrick BrownPanthersIDL (DT)$10,455,000$11,665,000$16,068,000$18,937,000
8Isaiah SimmonsCardinalsLB$11,727,000$12,722,000$17,478,000$20,926,000
9C.J. HendersonPanthersCB$11,514,000$12,344,000$15,791,000$18,140,000
10Jedrick WillsBrownsLT (OL)$13,565,000$14,175,000$16,660,000$18,244,000
11Mekhi BectonJetsRT (OL)$13,565,000$14,175,000$16,660,000$18,244,000
13Tristan WirfsBuccaneersRT (OL)$13,565,000$14,175,000$16,660,000$18,244,000
14Javon Kinlaw49ersIDL (DT)$10,455,000$11,665,000$16,068,000$18,937,000
15Jerry JeudyBroncosWR$12,987,000$14,124,000$17,991,000$19,743,000
16A.J. TerrellFalconsCB$11,514,000$12,344,000$15,791,000$18,140,000
17CeeDee LambCowboysWR$12,987,000$14,124,000$17,991,000$19,743,000
18Austin JacksonDolphinsRT (OL)$13,565,000$14,175,000$16,660,000$18,244,000
20K'Lavon ChaissonJaguarsEDGE (DE)$12,141,000$13,212,000$17,452,000$19,727,000
21Jalen ReagorVikingsWR$12,987,000$14,124,000$17,991,000$19,743,000
22Justin JeffersonVikingsWR$12,987,000$14,124,000$17,991,000$19,743,000
23Kenneth MurrayChargersLB$11,727,000$12,722,000$17,478,000$20,926,000
24Cesar RuizSaintsRG (OL)$13,565,000$14,175,000$16,660,000$18,244,000
25Brandon Aiyuk49ersWR$12,987,000$14,124,000$17,991,000$19,743,000
26Jordan LovePackersQB$20,272,000$23,171,000$29,504,000$32,416,000
27Jordyn BrooksSeahawksLB$11,727,000$12,722,000$17,478,000$20,926,000
28Patrick QueenRavensLB$11,727,000$12,722,000$17,478,000$20,926,000
30Noah IgbinogheneDolphinsCB$11,514,000$12,344,000$15,791,000$18,140,000
32Clyde Edwards-HelaireChiefsRB$5,461,000$5,994,000$8,429,000$10,091,000