What Is the NFL Fifth-Year Option and How Does It Work?

American football fans can’t fully comprehend the vast and confusing landscape of NFL contracts without first understanding the rookie scale.

Successful NFL franchises – the ones who compete at the top of the Super Bowl odds market every year – are almost always the clubs that successfully identify and draft good players. 

Teams who hit on their first-round picks are rewarded with additional years of contractual control. That’s where the fifth-year option comes in.

What Is the NFL Fifth-Year Option and How Does It Work?

In simple terms, the NFL fifth-year option is each team’s optional ability to extend its control of any first-round pick for a fifth year.

First-round contracts are guaranteed to run for a base of four years, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement that governs NFL contracts. 

But if a team likes one of its first-round players, and they’re still on their rookie contract, the front office can execute its team option to extend that contract for a fifth year. Hence, it’s a fifth-year option.

Fifth-year options give a team additional control of key impact players. Teams retain even more anti-market abilities thanks to the additional powers of the franchise tag. 

In turn, these front office CBA powers translate directly to how competitive a team can remain on the field.

How If the Fifth-Year Option Calculated?

Fifth-year options pay rates are calculated by a complicated tiered system that depends on several factors. 

From the player’s perspective, the best-case scenario is when he has already made multiple Pro Bowls on his rookie contract. In that case, he’s paid the same rate as the franchise tag. (Players with a single Pro Bowl nod are paid the transition tag rate.)

For players that haven’t made a Pro Bowl, they’re then paid a market average that’s based on what position they play and how much time they spend on the field. 

All fifth-year option salaries are fully guaranteed.

NFL Fifth-Year Option Deadline

Teams have to execute their fifth-year options by a specific deadline set in the prior-year spring ahead of the player’s fifth year.

So, for example: The NFL Draft class of 2022 is now approaching its fourth season in the league. 

First-round picks from 2022 are eligible for a fifth-year option for 2026, but teams had to execute those options by May 1, 2025.  

You can see the teams that executed fifth-year options for 2026 below. 

Fifth-Year Option Tracker for 2026

• Travon Walker, Jaguars ($14.75 million)
• Aidan Hutchinson, Lions ($20.86 million)
• Sauce Gardner, Jets ($20.19 million)
• Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants ($14.75 million)
• Ikem Ekwonu, Panthers ($17.56 million)
• Drake London, Falcons ($16.82 million)
• Charles Cross, Seahawks ($17.56 million)
• Garrett Wilson, Jets ($16.82 million)
• Chris Olave, Saints ($15.49 million)
• Jameson Williams, Lions ($15.49 million)
• Jordan Davis, Eagles ($12.94 million)
• Kyle Hamilton, Ravens (18.6 million)
• Trent McDuffie, Chiefs ($13.63 million)
• Tyler Smith, Cowboys ($21.72 million)
• Jermaine Johnson II, Jets ($13.41 million)
• Devonte Wyatt, Packers ($12.93 million)
• George Karlaftis, Chiefs ($15.20 million)
• Dax Hill, Bengals ($12.68 million)