Monday Minute: 5th Year Option Roundup Edition - 5/17/21
Hey ya'll. Feels like it has been a while because of the Friday article being posted a day early on Thursday.
Quick update for you all. Not sure if I am going to have a Wednesday article going up this week. I've got some early morning business to attend to that isn't really conducive to staying up until 4am working on these articles. Maybe I will surprise myself and get something done, but I am not sure what I would post for my 3rd article this week alongside the Eastern Divisions Post-Draft Breakdown. If you have any suggestions, let me know.
As always though, there will be a tweet out @KyleTheCommish just after noontime on MWF if there is an article for your consumption.
There wasn't a lot of huge news this week but the 5th Year Option deadline has passed since the last Monday Minute. I want to go ahead and talk about the actions spurred by the deadline and also briefly explain the changes to the 5th year option with the last CBA. There were lots of smaller newsworthy items as well, so I will touch on those en masse.
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5th Year Option Roundup
Alright so first things first, a 5th Year option is built into all contracts for 1st round picks. The deadline for picking up or declining the option is between the 3rd and 4th year. The salaries on these options are fully guaranteed immediately (this means the player will be on the team going into 5th year vs being cut as a cap casualty).
The salaries for these options are no longer a standard amount. They vary based on player performance.
There are 4 pay distinctions but I am going to share 3 because two of them are very similar.
- If the player is NOT selected to the Pro Bowl on the original ballot in his first three seasons, the 5th Year Option cost will be equal to the average salary of the 3rd-20th highest-paid players at his position.
- If the player is selected to ONE Pro Bowl on the original ballot in his first three seasons, the 5th Year Option cost will be equal to the transition tag of his position during the players fourth year.
- If the player is selected to MORE THAN ONE Pro Bowl on the original ballot in his first three seasons, the 5th Year Option cost will be equal to the franchise tag of his position during the players fourth year.
- Baker Mayfield, QB Cleveland Browns - Accepted
- Saquon Barkley, RB New York Giants - Accepted, Tier 2 - 1 Pro Bowl
- Sam Darnold, QB Carolina Panthers - Accepted
- Denzel Ward, CB Cleveland Browns - Accepted, Tier 2 - 1 Pro Bowl
- Bradley Chubb, DE Denver Broncos - Accepted
- Quenton Nelson, OG Indianapolis Colts - Accepted, Tier 3 - 3 Pro Bowls
- Josh Allen, QB Buffalo Bills - Accepted, 1 Pro Bowl
- Roquan Smith, LB Chicago Bears - Accepted
- Mike McGlinchey, OT San Francisco 49ers - Accepted
- Josh Rosen, QB Miami Dolphins* - Released
- Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Pittsburgh Steelers - Accepted, Tier 3 - 2 Pro Bowls
- Vita Vea, DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Accepted
- Da'Ron Payne, DT Washington Football Team - Accepted
- Marcus Davenport, DE New Orleans Saints - Accepted
- Kolton Miller, OT Las Vegas Raiders - Extended
- Tremaine Edmunds, LB Buffalo Bills - Accepted, Tier 2 - 1 Pro Bowl
- Derwin James, S Los Angeles Chargers - Accepted, Tier 2 - 1 Pro Bowl
- Jaire Alexander, CB Green Bay Packers - Accepted, Tier 2 - 1 Pro Bowl
- Leighton Vander Esch, LB Dallas Cowboys - Declined
- Frank Ragnow, C Detroit Lions - Extended, 1 Pro Bowl
- Billy Price, C Cincinnati Bengals - Declined
- Rashaan Evans, LB Tennessee Titans - Declined
- Isaiah Wynn, OT New England Patriots - Accepted
- DJ Moore, WR Carolina Panthers - Accepted
- Hayden Hurst, TE Atlanta Falcons - Declined
- Calvin Ridley, WR Atlanta Falcons - Accepted
- Rashaad Penny, RB Seattle Seahawks - Declined
- Terrell Edmunds, S Pittsburgh Steelers - Declined
- Taven Bryan, DE Jacksonville Jaguars - Declined
- Mike Hughes, CB Minnesota Vikings - Declined
- Sony Michel, RB New England Patriots - Declined
- Lamar Jackson, QB Baltimore Ravens - Accepted, Tier 2 - 1 Pro Bowl
Everyone who had their option declined will become a free agent next offseason, but all of these players can negotiate an extension at any point now that it is after their 3rd season.
As far as my opinion on these decisions, most of them were not too hard to make. The big question to me is which of these players will actually play on their 5th Year option and which will get extended prior to it. You have 4 players on this list that their team thinks could be a franchise QB. We have seen what happened with Dak and that will no doubt serve as a cautionary tale to pay players early. But we also saw what happened with Goff, it goes both ways.
For those 4 QBs, here are my specific thoughts:
Baker Mayfield - Cleveland has a mini Super Bowl window open right now because they have had the luxury of a cheap QB and the 5th year option extends it through next year as well. Baker hasn't shown enough yet to extend him to a gigantic deal. But if the Browns can get a deal that is team friendly (think Jimmy G contract when it was signed), I would consider extending him now.
Sam Darnold - I don't think it is necessarily fair to blame Sam for everything we have seen from him. But I will say that great QBs help themselves and perservere. The Panthers have Sam for a 2-year tryout and the trade parameters tell me they intend to use both years. Though, it does sound like they will listen if a good QB is available. In my opinion, he has to play out this contract. He hasn't shown any reason to deserve a raise.
Josh Allen - This is tricky. 2 years where Josh really struggled, but one MVP year. What are the Bills going to get consistently out of him? The smart thing to me would be to extend him now and give him a bunch of upfront guarantees. Make it possible to get out of a year early but that'll probably be 5 years from now at the earliest. I'm thinking 3-years $110M with $80M guaranteed. Add that on to the 2 years he has left and pray to god you get MVP Josh.
Lamar Jackson - I am probably on the losing side of this argument, but there is absolutely no chance I will be paying Lamar Jackson. I know he has been a unanimous MVP. I don't care. He can't throw the ball consistently. Until I see that he can make a comeback win because of his arm, I'm not giving him an extension.
Other opinions on some of these players:
Quenton Nelson - The Colts are going to need to make him the highest-paid guard in the history of the NFL. He deserves tackle money to be honest and he might just get it. Think $20M per year.
Hayden Hurst - The decline on him was the only one that I sort of raised an eyebrow at. He was traded for a 2nd round pick (4th rounder went back in the deal) just last year and his salary would've been less than $5M on that 5th Year option. He is a decemt dual-threat TE for Arthur Smith who loves 12 Personnel. Either they think he is totally replaceable or they think they can get him for less than $5M a year.
Derwin James - Very curious about this situation. James had a Pro Bowl season in his rookie year and then has basically missed every game since then. The Chargers did have to pony up transition tag money for this option so they clearly have him in their plans, but will his body hold up to see those plans through?
(Non-QBs) Players Most Likely to be Extended for Big $$$ - Quenton Nelson, Jaire Alexander, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Calvin Ridley, Bradley Chubb
Players Least Likely to be Extended that received the option - Marcus Davenport, Isaiah Wynn, Sam Darnold
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Notes for the Road
As I talked about a few weeks ago, Alejandro Villanueva signs with the Baltimore Ravens to become their RT. They just wanted to wait until after the draft so they could have the signing not count against their comp picks for next year, where they are expected to get at least two 3rd rounders. Remember, Villanueva played very sparingly on the right side in his long career so we will see how effective he is. Though, he certainly has the size for the right side.
Unfortunate news for players everywhere. OT Ja'Wuan James tore his Achilles working out away from the Broncos facility. Players are oftentimes encouraged to work out in the offseason, even if they don't go to the facility. HOWEVER, the players have a huge risk when they do this. If a player has a season-ending injury or an injury that causes them to miss playing time, the team can forego his earnings for those games. It makes absolutely no common sense that they encourage you to continue to work out but then would try to take advantage of the player at their weakest, but it is the reality of the NFL sometimes.
Ja'Wuan was released by Denver last week and they are not expected to pay him his $10M salary for 2021. The NFLPA and James have already said they are planning to fight this matter.
Speaking of 5th Year option players from the 2018 class, you may have already seen it above but Frank Ragnow was extended by the Lions and he became the highest-paid center in football with a 4 year $54M deal, with $42M guaranteed.
Additionally, Mike Hughes' option was declined by the Vikings. But he was traded subsequently to the Chiefs, where he will play out the final year of his deal. The trade was a swap of late-round picks in the 2022 draft. Hughes has not been a very productive player since entering the league, which is why Minnesota drafted 2 CBs in the first three rounds in 2020.
A few players recently were cut and found new homes since our last Monday Minute.
RB Kerryon Johnson was cut from the Lions and claimed on waivers by the Eagles. The Lions are going full steam ahead with D'Andre Swift. Meanwhile, the Eagles continue to hoard RBs. I don't think it will affect Miles Sanders' fantasy value too much, but who knows. The thing that hurt Sanders in the past was Doug Pederson and how often he used multiple backs.
The Dolphins released their starting FS Bobby McCain, who then signed with the Washington Football Team. Bobby's release saved Miami over $5M in cap space, which was enough to sign their draft class and be under the cap. Bobby also played as a nickel CB in Miami. The Dolphins drafted Jevon Holland in the 2nd round and between one of Eric Rowe, (3rd round pick in 2020) Brandon Jones, and Jevon, someone will figure out that FS spot. The Dolphins also subsequently signed Jason McCourty, who has played safety and nickel in New England.
LT Charles Leno was released from the Bears but was not without a home for long. The Washington Football Team snapped him up. The Bears drafted OT Tevin Jenkins and traded up to get him, so I expect he will be an earlier starter for them either at LT or RT. The Washington Football Team drafted LT Sam Cosmi in the 2nd round but he is a little raw with his technique. It sounds like the plan is to ease Cosmi in and have Leno start from the jump at LT.
Staying with Left Tackles... former 1st Overall Pick Eric Fisher signed with the Colts this week for a pretty solid deal. $9.4M for 1 year, but he is going to miss some time because of an Achilles injury that had him miss the Super Bowl. The Colts attacked the EDGE position in the draft and completely ignored the vacancy at LT. Prior to the Fisher signing, Sam Tevi was the expected starter at LT for the Colts. I expect he will be the temporary starter until Fisher is healthy.
To replace Ja'Wuan James after his release/injury, the Broncos signed recently released RT Bobbie Massie. Similar to James, Massie has left me wanting more from him but perhaps that is just the player he is at this point.
Casey Hayward, formerly of the Chargers when Gus Bradley was the DC, has made the inter-division move to Las Vegas where Gus Bradley was hired. I've always liked Casey Hayward and I think he could quickly become the best CB on the team.
Finally, the moment you have all been waiting for... Tim Tebow is signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars to play TE. Everyone in the NFL, except apparently Denver, knew that Tebow was not good enough to play QB. He did have some magical moments while playing for the team though. The defense was so dominant that it kept them in games enough for Tebow to make a few maniacal plays and get a win in the playoffs. Once Peyton Manning came to town, that experiment was definitively over and Tebow bounced around for a few training camps. He notably refused to play the TE position when asked and instead chose to work at ESPN and play minor league baseball. Honestly, he made more money and had much more success doing those things. I am personally not a fan of Tebow mainly because of his cult-like following. But I do have some respect for him for just being an overall good person and competitor. I don't expect that he makes the 53-man roster, but he will be great for getting the team chemistry up for a first-time NFL HC in Urban Meyer.
I want to wrap up with a few players that are on the trading block.
TE Zach Ertz's name has popped up again as a person to watch. I haven't heard almost anything about it since I saw that over a week ago, but it has been something I've personally thought would be coming. I expect he will be moved before the season starts in September.
LB Jordan Hicks of the Cardinals is also on the block. He is going to be replaced by Zaven Collins, their 1st round draft pick. He did take a $3M pay cut so it sounds like he will stick around as a backup if he doesn't get traded. Zaven is stepping right into the MIKE LB role, which is huge for a rookie.
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TOP 10 New Jersey Numbers
- Patrick Peterson: 21 -> 7
- Robert Woods: 17 -> 2
- Will Fuller: 15 -> 3
- Budda Baker: 32 -> 3
- Kyle Pitts: College -> 8 (IDC if it's not new I still like it)
- Sterling Shephard: 87 -> 3
- Jason Verrett: 22 -> 2
- Carson Wentz: 11 -> 2
- Leonard Fournette: 28 -> 7
- Jalen Hurts: 2 -> 1
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What type of articles do you want to see from me in the future? Let me know in the comments or at @KyleTheCommish on Twitter.
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