Who Will See Their 2021 NFL Draft Fifth-Year Option Picked Up Picks 1-10
The NFL off-season is underway, and some big moves that will take place are the 2021 NFL first-round picks and fifth-year options getting picked up or declined.
Every first-round pick gets a fifth-year option the team can pick up heading into their fourth season.
Players drafted from round two and on don't have a fifth-year option in their contract, and they become free agents after their fourth season, but a first-rounder has that fifth-year option in their bag.
NFL teams have until May 2nd to pick up their player's fifth-year options from the 2021 first round.
1. Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence was the first overall pick in the 2021 draft and was one of the best quarterback prospects coming out of college. Lawrence stepped onto the scene and struggled in the first season due to Urban Meyer being his head coach and screwing him up during his rookie season and being on a team that wasn't very good.
Lawrence benefited from the head coaching hire of Doug Pederson in 2022, won the AFC South, lost to Kansas City in the Divisional round, and then in 2023, Lawrence was banged up with a little bit of shoulder and ankle injury late in the season, and the team fell out of the playoffs the last week of the season.
Even though Lawrence has yet to look like a number one overall pick, his fifth-year option will be picked up, and he still is one of the Top Ten quarterbacks in the league when he is on his game.
Fifth-Year Option-Picked Up
2. Zach Wilson, Quarterback, New York Jets
The 2021 second-overall pick has not lived up to the hype in the city that never sleeps and was even replaced heading into his third season by Aaron Rodgers. Still, a first-game season-ending injury to Rodgers led Wilson to play most of the season, and he showed why the team made a trade for Rodgers in the first place.
To keep it short, Wilson will not see his fifth-year option picked up, and who knows if he will even be on the Jets when the 2024 season starts.
Fifth-Year Option-Declined
3. Trey Lance, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys(drafted by San Francisco 49ers)
The San Francisco 49ers gave up three first-round picks to move up to number three from number 12 in the first round of the 2021 draft, and they selected Lance out of North Dakota State.
Lance didn't play much during his rookie season, had a season-ending injury earlier in year two, and saw Brock Purdy take his job. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys before the season started for a 2024 fourth-round pick.
Lance is now the backup for Dak Prescott, and I don't see the team picking his fifth-year option.
Fifth-Year Option-Declined
4. Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Atlanta Falcons
Pitts was one of the best tight end prospects, and, if not the best, we have ever seen coming out of college; the only issue is he was paired up with head coach Arthur Smith, who needed to learn how to use him. With Smith out the door, I assume Pitts can be used correctly under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Pitts has too much talent not to see his fifth-year option picked up, and I'm assuming it will be.
Fifth-Year Option-Picked Up
5. Ja'Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals
This is an easy one! Chase will see his fifth-year option picked up and probably have a new contract as the highest-paid receiver in football when training camp rolls around in July. Chase is one of the best receivers in the game and will be around Cincinnati for a long time.
Fifth-Year Option-Picked Up
6. Jaylen Waddle, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
Waddle is one of the youngest and fastest receivers in the game and could be a number one, but he is paired up with one of the best receivers in the NFL, Tyreek Hill.
Waddle and Hill are two of the most lethal pairings in the NFL and have helped out quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a lot.
There is no question Waddle will see his fifth-year option picked up.
Fifth-Year Option-Picked Up
7. Penei Sewell, Right Tackle, Detroit Lions
Another easy one! Sewell is one of the best right tackles in the game and is the heart and soul of the best offensive line in football. Sewell will have his fifth-year option picked up, without a doubt.
Fifth-Year Option-Picked Up
8. Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, Carolina Panthers
Horn saw his rookie season go up in flames after a season-ending injury in his third game, came back strong in year two, played 13 games, and was hit with the injury bug again, only seeing six games in 2023.
The Panthers might be one of the worst teams in the NFL, but they have a pretty good pass defense, and I don't see why they shouldn't pick up Horn's fifth-year option. Carolina isn't winning anything shortly, and they need all the talent they can find. Horn might have seen the injury bug earlier in his career, but he still has significant talent and shouldn't be given up this early.
Fifth-Year Option-Picked Up
9. Patrick Surtain II, Cornerback, Denver Broncos
Surtain has developed into one of the best cornerbacks in his early career and will have no issue seeing his fifth-year option picked up. His name keeps coming up in trade talks about Denver using him to trade up for a quarterback in the draft, but I don't believe any of it.
Fifth-Year Option- Picked Up
10. DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles,
Smith won the Heisman trophy in 2020 and has yet to look like his Heisman self in the NFL, but he has had a solid career. Smith is the number two receiver on the Eagles since A.J. Brown is wide receiver one, but it doesn't matter. Smith is an outstanding player and will have his fifth-year option picked up.
Fifth-Year Option-Picked Up
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