NFL fifth-year player options: Tracking team decisions on 2022 first-round picks

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The deadline for NFL teams to exercise fifth-year options on players drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft is May 1.

The fifth-year option allows teams to keep their first-round draft picks for one additional year without agreeing to an extension. All drafted rookies sign four-year contracts, but the fifth-year option is only available to first-round selections. The value of the fifth-year option is calculated by position, playing time tiers and whether the player has been to one or multiple Pro Bowls.

Fifth-year options are decided on after the player’s third full NFL season. The 2022 first-round picks whose options are picked up will be under contract through the 2026 NFL season. Those whose options are declined will become unrestricted free agents after the 2025 season.

Here’s a rundown of the decisions reached on each 2022 first-round pick. Of note, only 31 of the 32 picks are eligible to have the option picked up.

Safety Lewis Cine — drafted with the No. 32 pick by the Minnesota Vikings — is ineligible for the fifth-year option after he was released before the 2024 season. Cine signed with the Buffalo Bills practice squad in Aug. 2024 and played one game with them. The Philadelphia Eagles signed him off of the Bills practice squad in Jan. 2025.

This story will be updated as teams make their decisions. Values based on the projected price of the option via Over the Cap. 

Long-term extensions

Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Houston Texans

Pick: 3

Stingley and the Texans agreed to a three-year, $90 million contract extension in March, which includes $63.5 million guaranteed, as reported by The Athletic. Though he battled injuries in his first two NFL seasons, the former LSU product was healthy for all of 2024, earning first-team All-Pro status and his first Pro Bowl nod. The extension made Stingley the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

Fifth-year option exercised

Travon Walker, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: 1 | 2026 option: $14.751 million

The former top pick isn’t as flashy as expected, but Walker is coming off back-to-back double-digit sack campaigns. He has strength as a run defender and pocket pusher, plus, he’s shown development after a slow start as a rookie.

Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions

Pick: 2 | 2026 option: $20.862 million

A broken leg sidelined Hutchinson for 12 games and the playoffs in the Lions’ NFC North-winning 2024 season, but he still led the team in sacks with 7 1/2 before his injury. He burst onto the scene as a rookie, finishing second behind Sauce Gardner for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. The accolades should keep coming after his highly anticipated return.

Ahmad (Sauce) Gardner, CB, New York Jets

Pick: 4 | 2026 option: $20.186 million

The 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Gardner earned first-team All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl selections in each of his first two NFL seasons. His 2024 campaign was slightly underwhelming, but he’s proved to be a shutdown cornerback.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, New York Giants

Pick: 5 | 2026 option: $14.751 million

Thibodeaux might not have met top-10 expectations, but he looked more consistent and improved his pressure rate from 9.6 percent in 2023 to 12.6 percent in 2024. He’s a speedy pass rusher, who just needs a little more discipline. The Giants drafting edge rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 3 pick does raise questions about his long-term fit.

Ikem Ekwonu, OT, Carolina Panthers

Pick: 6 | 2026 option: $17.560 million

The Panthers didn’t take an offensive tackle in the 2025 draft. Ekwonu was largely inconsistent as a pass protector in his first two seasons, but he showed improvement in 2024 and is most impactful as a run blocker.

Charles Cross, OT, Seattle Seahawks

Pick: 9 | 2026 million: $17.560 million

Cross has started 48 of a possible 51 games since joining the Seahawks. He has the most games started among Seattle’s projected starting offensive line but he has struggled to build off the promise of a strong rookie season

Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

Pick: 10 | 2026 option: $16.817 million

Despite playing in the Jets’ struggling offense, Wilson has never produced fewer than 83 receptions and 1,000 yards in a season. His seven touchdown catches last season were equivalent to what he scored in his first two seasons combined. That’s not to say he got off to a slow start either. Wilson was the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Pick: 11 | 2026 option: $15.493 million

Olave led the Saints in receptions and receiving yards in each of his first two NFL seasons. It’s worth mentioning he has suffered four documented concussions in the NFL and missed time with various other ailments.

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions

Pick: 12 | 2026 option: $15.493 million

Williams set career highs with 58 catches, 1,001 receiving yards and eight touchdowns (seven receiving) last season for the high-powered Detroit offense.

Tyler Smith, OG, Dallas Cowboys

Pick: 24 | 2026 option: $21.272 million

Smith has been a lynchpin for a Dallas offensive line that has been in a bit of transition in recent years with Tyron Smith and Zack Martin in the twilight of their careers and moving on. The Tulsa product has been named to two consecutive Pro Bowls and was a second-team All-Pro in 2023.

Jermaine Johnson II, edge, New York Jets

Pick: 26 | 2026 option: $13.411 million

Johnson wasn’t able to build on a strong sophomore campaign (53 pressures, 7.5 sacks) after he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 2 and missed the remainder of the 2024 season.

Declined

Evan Neal, OT, New York Giants

Pick: 7 | Option declined: $16.685 million

Neal never panned out as the bookend right tackle the Giants needed him to be and dealt with various injuries that caused him to miss time in each of his three seasons.

Trevor Penning, OT, New Orleans Saints

Pick: 19 | Option declined: $16.685 million

Penning started all 17 regular-season games at right tackle for the Saints last season, but his 54 pressures allowed led the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

Kenny Pickett, QB, Cleveland Browns (traded from Philadelphia Eagles via Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pick: 20 | 2026 option: $22.117 million

The Browns’ quarterback room got crowded after they drafted Dillon Gabriel (third round) and Shedeur Sanders (fifth round) to join Pickett, Joe Flacco and an injured Deshaun Watson. Pickett, who turns 27 in June, was acquired by Cleveland in March. He has started 25 games over three NFL seasons and was Jalen Hurts’ backup last year with the Eagles.

The Browns are Kenny Pickett’s (7) third team under his rookie deal. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)

To be decided

(The Athletic’s Derrik Klassen has more on where these option decisions stand.)

Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Pick: 8 | 2026 option: $16.817 million

Falcons GM Terry Fontenot declined comment on London’s option over the weekend, but said: “You know how we feel about Drake. He’s a stud. He’s everything we’re about. He will do anything he can to rip your face off and win the game. That’s who he is and what we want.”

London’s production has improved in each of his three seasons, and he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards with nine touchdowns in 2024.

Jordan Davis, DT, Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: 13  | 2026 option: $12.938 million

The Eagles’ coaching staff has been complimentary of Davis and his potential. His regular-season production across three seasons doesn’t jump off the stat page, but he made an impact in the 2024 postseason (two sacks, two tackles for loss in four playoff games).

Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore Ravens

Pick: 14 | 2026 option: $18.6 million

A two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro selection in 2023, Hamilton is the NFL’s best safety and nickel cornerback. In three seasons, he has four forced fumbles, five interceptions, seven sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 27 pass breakups.

Kenyon Green, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (traded from Houston Texans)

Pick: 15 | 2026 option: $16.685 million

Green’s lack of awareness and inconsistency as a run blocker have prohibited him from unlocking his potential. Perhaps, his change of scenery will help him shine.

Jahan Dotson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (traded from Washington Commanders)

Pick: 16 | 2026 option: $16.817 million

Dotson’s 27-yard catch in the first quarter of Super Bowl LIX set up the Eagles’ first touchdown. However, that was one of his lone bright moments in a 2024 season with minimal production (19 catches for 216 yards).

Zion Johnson, OG, Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: 17 | 2026 option: $17.560 million

Johnson’s size and strength are pluses, but he hasn’t shown much proof of development in his three seasons with the Chargers. LA is planning to shift  him to center this season.

Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans

Pick: 18 | 2026 option: $15.493 million

Burks’ most productive season was his first (33 catches, 444 yards, one touchdown). ACL surgery limited him to five games in 2024.

Trent McDuffie, CB, Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: 21 | 2026 option: $13.632 million

In three seasons, McDuffie has totaled 183 tackles (133 solo), 4 1/2 sacks and seven forced fumbles. He has been key to the Chiefs’ success, particularly in his ability to play more of outside cornerback in 2024.

Quay Walker, LB, Green Bay Packers

Pick: 22 | 2026 option: $14.751 million

Walker has played in 44 games (with 43 starts) in three seasons. He’s shown flashes when tracking the perimeter or firing as a blitzer, but those are often overshadowed by inconsistencies elsewhere.

Kaiir Elam, CB, Dallas Cowboys (traded from Buffalo Bills)

Pick: 23 | 2026 option: $12.682 million

The Cowboys acquired Elam in March from the Bills, where he recorded 81 tackles, six pass deflections, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Tyler Linderbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens

Pick: 25 | 2026 option: $23.403 million

Linderbaum was a Pro Bowler in 2023 and 2024. He has been a crucial part of Baltimore’s run blocking — in his three seasons as a starter on the offensive line, the Ravens have finished second, first and first in rushing yards

Devin Lloyd, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: 27 | 2026 option: $14.751 million

Lloyd has his moments, but he’s still a beat slow to react against the run and struggles to take on blocks with force. He has the pieces — length, movement skills, coverage chops — but hasn’t been able to put it all together.

Devonte Wyatt, DT, Green Bay Packers

Pick: 28 | 2026 option: $13.922 million

Wyatt’s production dipped slightly in 2024 after an impressive sophomore campaign. He’s still recorded 10 1/2 sacks over the past two seasons.

Cole Strange, OG, New England Patriots

Pick: 29 | 2026 option: $16.685 million

Strange has versatility as both a guard and a center, but injuries have caused him to miss time over the past two seasons.

George Karlaftis, DE, Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: 30 | 2026 option: $15.196 million

Over the last two seasons, Karlafits has 18 1/2 sacks and has added another seven in the playoffs. Since his rookie season in 2022, he has 15 passes defended, per TruMedia, behind only Khalil Mack, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt. He’s not your typical lockdown defender, but is special in ways that make him useful is almost every situation.

Dax Hill, DB, Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: 31 | 2026 option: $12.682 million

The Bengals moved Hill from safety to corner last season, and he showed success before a torn ACL cut his season short after five games.

(Photo of Aidan Hutchinson: Mike Mulholland / Getty Images)

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