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2026 NFL fifth-year options: Tracking every player eligible and team decisions

Portrait of Tom Viera Tom Viera
USA TODAY
Updated April 29, 2026, 5:41 p.m. ET

It’s decision time for NFL teams regarding their first-round picks from the 2023 draft.

All players who are drafted into the NFL sign four-year contracts, but the fifth-year option is only available for first-round picks. Teams need to decide on the fifth-year options after a first-round pick has completed three full seasons.

This offseason, the 2023 NFL Draft class will be considered for these options. If a team exercises the fifth-year option, the player will remain under contract through the 2027 season. However, if a team declines the option, the player will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season.

The Seattle Seahawks have already picked up the option on Jaxon Smith-Njigba and quickly agreed to a record-breaking contract extension, another avenue for teams aiming to secure their homegrown talent for the future.

NFL teams have until May 1 to make all final decisions regarding fifth-year options for players from the 2023 NFL Draft. Here are each player's eligibility and every team's decision so far.

NFL fifth-year option tracker 2026

All 31 of the first-round picks from the 2023 NFL Draft are eligible for fifth-year options. The first round featured one less pick in 2023 because the Miami Dolphins were forced to forfeit their selection (No. 21 overall) following an investigation into tampering.

Here's which option each player would receive and the dollar amount, per OverTheCap:

(This section will be updated with each team's decision.)

** denotes that the team has exercised the option

  1. **QB Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers: Playtime option, $25.904 million. Option picked up on April 29.
  2. **QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: Playtime option, $25.904 million. Option picked up on April 8.
  3. **Edge Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans: Signed three-year extension on April 17.
  4. QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: Basic option, $22.483 million.
  5. **CB Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks: Multiple Pro Bowls option, $21.161 million. Option picked up on March 20.
  6. **OT Paris Johnson Jr., Arizona Cardinals: Playtime option, $19.072 million. Option picked up on April 16.
  7. Edge Tyree Wilson, New Orleans Saints: Basic option, $14.475 million. The Raiders traded Wilson to New Orleans on April 25. New Orleans has decided not to exercise Wilson's fifth-year option, as stated by general manager Mickey Loomis on April 27, according to Ian Rapoport.
  8. **RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: One Pro Bowl option, $11.323 million. Option picked up on April 10.
  9. **DT Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles: Multiple Pro Bowls option, $27.127 million. Option picked up on April 27.
  10. **OT Darnell Wright, Chicago Bears: Playtime option, $19.072 million. Option picked up on April 20.
  11. **OG Peter Skoronski, Tennessee Titans: Playtime option, $19.072 million. The Titans plan to exercise Skoronski's fifth-year option, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on April 18.
  12. **RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions: Multiple Pro Bowls option, $14.293 million. Option picked up on April 28.
  13. Edge Lukas Van Ness, Green Bay Packers: Basic option, $13.752 million
  14. OT Broderick Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers: Playtime option, $19.072 million
  15. **Edge Will McDonald IV, New York Jets: Basic option, $13.752 million. Option picked up on April 29.
  16. CB Emmanuel Forbes, Los Angeles Rams (drafted and waived by the Washington Commanders, picked up by Rams): Basic option, $12.633 million
  17. **CB Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots: One Pro Bowl option, $18.119 million. Option picked up on April 28.
  18. LB Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions: One Pro Bowl option, $21.925 million. The Lions declined Campbell's option on April 28.
  19. **DE Calijah Kancey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Basic option, $14.475 million. Option picked up on April 27.
  20. **WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks: Signed four-year extension on March 23.
  21. **WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers: Playtime option, $18 million. Option picked up on April 28.
  22. **WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens: Multiple Pro Bowls option, $27.298 million. Option picked up on April 23.
  23. **WR Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings: Playtime option, $18 million. Option picked up on March 30.
  24. CB Deonte Banks, New York Giants: Basic option, $12.633 million
  25. **TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills: Basic option, $8.162 million. Option picked up on March 30.
  26. DT Mazi Smith, New York Jets (drafted and traded by the Dallas Cowboys): Basic option, $13.931 million. The Jets declined Smith's option on April 29.
  27. **OT Anton Harrison, Jacksonville Jaguars: Playtime option, $19.072 million. Option picked up on March 31.
  28. Edge Myles Murphy, Cincinnati Bengals: Basic option, $14.475 million
  29. DT Bryan Bresee, New Orleans Saints: Basic option, $13.931 million
  30. **Edge Nolan Smith, Philadelphia Eagles: Basic option, $13.752 million. Option picked up on April 27.
  31. Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas City Chiefs: Basic option, $14.475 million
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