NFL teams faced a critical decision for their 2023 first-round picks: exercise the fifth-year option and retain the player through the 2027 season, or decline it and allow them to reach free agency a year earlier than expected.
The fifth-year option is one of the clearest signals a front office can send about a player's standing within an organization.
Picking it up buys a team one more year of cost-controlled production and leverage in extension talks.
Declining it, especially for a high-profile pick, is a public acknowledgment that a player hasn't lived up to expectations.
The 2023 draft class is headlined by quarterbacks Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr, running back Bijan Robinson, and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The deadline to exercise or decline fifth-year options for the 2023 draft class was May 1, 2026.
We tracked every decision below.
Last Updated: May 1
2023 Draft Class Fifth-Year Option Tracker:
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | 5th-Year Value | Exercised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panthers | Bryce Young | QB | $25.9 million | Yes |
| 2 | Texans | C.J. Stroud | QB | $25.9 million | Yes |
| 3 | Texans | Will Anderson Jr. | EDGE | $21.5 million | Yes |
| 4 | Colts | Anthony Richardson | QB | $22.5 million | No |
| 5 | Seahawks | Devon Witherspoon | CB | $21.2 million | Yes |
| 6 | Cardinals | Paris Johnson Jr. | OL | $19.1 million | Yes |
| 7 | Saints | Tyree Wilson | EDGE | $14.5 million | No |
| 8 | Falcons | Bijan Robinson | RB | $11.3 million | Yes |
| 9 | Eagles | Jalen Carter | DL | $27.1 million | Yes |
| 10 | Bears | Darnell Wright | OL | $19.1 million | Yes |
| 11 | Titans | Peter Skoronski | OL | $19.1 million | Yes |
| 12 | Lions | Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | $14.3 million | Yes |
| 13 | Packers | Lukas Van Ness | EDGE | $13.8 million | Yes |
| 14 | Steelers | Broderick Jones | OL | $19.1 million | No |
| 15 | Jets | Will McDonald IV | EDGE | $13.8 million | Yes |
| 16 | Rams | Emmanuel Forbes | CB | $12.6 million | No |
| 17 | Patriots | Christian Gonzalez | CB | $18.1 million | Yes |
| 18 | Lions | Jack Campbell | LB | $21.9 million | No |
| 19 | Buccaneers | Calijah Kancey | DL | $14.5 million | Yes |
| 20 | Seahawks | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | $23.9 million | Yes |
| 21 | Chargers | Quentin Johnston | WR | $18.0 million | Yes |
| 22 | Ravens | Zay Flowers | WR | $27.3 million | Yes |
| 23 | Vikings | Jordan Addison | WR | $18.0 million | Yes |
| 24 | Giants | Deonte Banks | CB | $12.6 million | No |
| 25 | Bills | Dalton Kincaid | TE | $8.1 million | Yes |
| 26 | Jets | Mazi Smith | DL | $13.9 million | No |
| 27 | Jaguars | Anton Harrison | OL | $19.1 million | Yes |
| 28 | Bengals | Myles Murphy | EDGE | $14.5 million | No |
| 29 | Saints | Bryan Bresee | DL | $13.9 million | Yes |
| 30 | Eagles | Nolan Smith | EDGE | $13.8 million | Yes |
| 31 | Chiefs | Felix Anudike-Uzomah | EDGE | $14.5 million | No |
Fifth-year option values from Over The Cap.
How many players had their fifth-year option picked up?
22 first-round draft picks from the 2023 draft had their fifth-year option picked up.
Which players had their fifth-year option picked up?
- Bryce Young, QB, Panthers – $25.9 million
- C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans – $25.9 million
- Will Anderson Jr, EDGE, Texans – $21.5 million
- Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seahawks – $21.2 million
- Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Cardinals – $19.1 million
- Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons – $11.3 million
- Jalen Carter, DL, Eagles – $27.1 million
- Darnell Wright, OL, Bears – $19.1 million
- Peter Skoronski, OL, Titans – $19.1 million
- Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions – $14.3 million
- Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Packers – $13.8 million
- Will McDonald, EDGE, Jets – $13.8 million
- Christian Gonzalez, CB, Patriots – $18.1 million
- Calijah Kancey, DL, Bucs – $14.5 million
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks – $23.9 million
- Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers – $18.0 million
- Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens – $27.3 million
- Jordan Addison, WR, Vikings – $18.0 million
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills – $8.1 million
- Anton Harrison, RT, Jaguars – $19.1 million
- Bryan Bresee, DL, Saints – $13.9 million
- Nolan Smith, EDGE, Eagles – $13.8 million
Which players had their fifth-year option declined?
- Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts
- Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Saints
- Broderick Jones, OT, Steelers
- Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Rams
- Jack Campbell, LB, Lions
- Deonte Banks, CB, Giants
- Mazi Smith, DL, Jets
- Myles Murphy, EDGE, Bengals
- Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Chiefs
What NFL team has been the most successful using the fifth-year option?
The Carolina Panthers have been the most successful franchise at using the fifth-year option, picking up the fifth year or signing an extension with 11 of their 12 first-round picks (92%) since the option's inception.
| Rank | Team | Total | Hits* | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panthers | 12 | 11 | 92% |
| 2 | Texans | 10 | 9 | 90% |
| 3 | Rams | 8 | 7 | 88% |
| 4 | Falcons | 12 | 10 | 83% |
| 5 | Chiefs | 9 | 7 | 78% |
| 6 | Chargers | 13 | 10 | 77% |
| 7 | Bengals | 13 | 10 | 77% |
| 8 | Cowboys | 11 | 8 | 73% |
| 9 | Dolphins | 14 | 10 | 71% |
| 10 | Lions | 13 | 9 | 69% |
| 11 | Jets | 16 | 11 | 69% |
| 12 | Saints | 14 | 9 | 64% |
| 13 | Bills | 11 | 7 | 64% |
| 14 | Bucs | 11 | 7 | 64% |
| 15 | Eagles | 11 | 7 | 64% |
| 16 | Colts | 8 | 5 | 63% |
| 17 | Packers | 13 | 8 | 62% |
| 18 | Broncos | 10 | 6 | 60% |
| 19 | Ravens | 14 | 8 | 57% |
| 20 | Commanders | 11 | 6 | 55% |
| 21 | Giants | 15 | 8 | 53% |
| 22 | 49ers | 14 | 7 | 50% |
| 23 | Browns | 16 | 8 | 50% |
| 24 | Vikings | 16 | 8 | 50% |
| 25 | Steelers | 11 | 5 | 45% |
| 26 | Cardinals | 11 | 5 | 45% |
| 27 | Patriots | 10 | 4 | 40% |
| 28 | Jaguars | 15 | 6 | 40% |
| 29 | Titans | 13 | 5 | 38% |
| 30 | Bears | 9 | 3 | 33% |
| 31 | Raiders | 12 | 3 | 25% |
| 32 | Seahawks | 7 | 1 | 14% |
*Fifth year exercised or multi-year extension
Fifth-Year Option Hit Rate by Position
Tight ends have earned the highest fifth-year option rate by position, with 7 of 8 (88%) first-round TEs getting the fifth year or an extension.
| Rank | Position | Total | Hits | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TE | 8 | 7 | 88% |
| 2 | DT | 36 | 25 | 69% |
| 3 | DB | 73 | 47 | 64% |
| 4 | T | 50 | 32 | 64% |
| 5 | DE | 49 | 30 | 61% |
| 6 | WR | 50 | 30 | 60% |
| 7 | QB | 34 | 20 | 59% |
| 8 | LB | 40 | 20 | 50% |
| 9 | C | 9 | 4 | 44% |
| 10 | G | 20 | 8 | 40% |
| 11 | RB | 14 | 5 | 36% |
Fifth-Year Option Hit Rate by Pick Number
Unsurprisingly, the No. 1 overall pick has the highest hit rate for fifth-year options, with every No. 1 pick either getting extended or their option picked up.
| Pick | Hits | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 100% |
| 2 | 7 | 58% |
| 3 | 6 | 50% |
| 4 | 9 | 75% |
| 5 | 10 | 83% |
| 6 | 9 | 75% |
| 7 | 7 | 58% |
| 8 | 8 | 67% |
| 9 | 8 | 67% |
| 10 | 7 | 58% |
| 11 | 10 | 83% |
| 12 | 8 | 67% |
| 13 | 10 | 83% |
| 14 | 9 | 75% |
| 15 | 6 | 50% |
| 16 | 9 | 75% |
| 17 | 9 | 75% |
| 18 | 8 | 67% |
| 19 | 5 | 42% |
| 20 | 6 | 50% |
| 21 | 8 | 67% |
| 22 | 4 | 33% |
| 23 | 7 | 58% |
| 24 | 7 | 58% |
| 25 | 8 | 67% |
| 26 | 6 | 50% |
| 27 | 7 | 58% |
| 28 | 2 | 17% |
| 29 | 2 | 17% |
| 30 | 7 | 58% |
| 31 | 5 | 42% |
| 32 | 2 | 17% |
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