Keeping tabs on the fifth-year options for 2016 first-round draft picks

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 19, 2019, 10:36 AM EDT
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Twenty-nine players who were first-round draft picks in 2016 have fifth-year options for the 2020 season, and their teams must decide by May 3 whether to pick up those options. We’ll list each first-round pick here and the status of that option year.

The Patriots forfeited their first-round pick in 2016 because of DeflateGate, and two first-round picks from 2016 have already been released from their rookie contracts and therefore have no fifth-year option to pick up. Here’s how the fifth-year options look for the rest of that draft class:

1. Jared Goff, QB, Rams: The Rams announced they have picked up his option.

2. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia: The Eagles announced they exercised his fifth-year option.

3. Joey Bosa, DE, Chargers: The Chargers picked up Bosa’s option for 2020.

4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas: The Cowboys picked up the option.

5. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jacksonville: The Jaguars picked up Ramsey’s option.

6. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Baltimore: The Ravens picked up his option.

7. DeForest Buckner, DE, San Francisco: The 49ers picked up his option.

8. Jack Conklin, OT, Tennessee: The Titans declined to exercise Conklin’s option.

9. Leonard Floyd, LB, Chicago: The Bears picked up his option.

10. Eli Apple, CB, New Orleans: The Saints will not pick up Apple’s option..

11. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Tampa Bay: The Buccaneers picked up his option.

12. Sheldon Rankins, DT, New Orleans: Will have his fifth-year option picked up.

13. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Miami: The Dolphins have announced that they will pick up the option.

14. Karl Joseph, S, Oakland: Despite Jon Gruden initially saying the Raiders would pick up the option, the Raiders changed their minds.

15. Corey Coleman, WR, Cleveland: Has no option to pick up because he was released. He’s currently under contract to the Giants.

16. Taylor Decker, OT, Detroit: Lions picked up his option.

17. Keanu Neal, S, Atlanta: The Falcons have confirmed that they will pick up the option.

18. Ryan Kelly, C, Indianapolis: Colts General Manager Chris Ballard announced the Colts will pick up Kelly’s fifth-year option.

19. Shaq Lawson, DE, Buffalo: The Bills will not pick up Lawson’s option.

20. Darron Lee, LB, Jets: The Jets will not pick up Lee’s option.

21. Will Fuller, WR, Houston: The Texans picked up Fuller’s option.

22. Josh Doctson, WR, Washington: The team will not pick up Doctson’s option.

23. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Minnesota: The Vikings announced they will not pick up Treadwell’s option.

24. William Jackson, CB, Cincinnati: The Bengals picked up his option.

25. Artie Burns, CB, Pittsburgh: The Steelers are expected to decline Burns’ option.

26. Paxton Lynch, QB, Denver: Has no option to pick up because he was released. He’s currently a backup in Seattle.

27. Kenny Clark, DT, Green Bay: The Packers will exercise Clark’s option.

28. Joshua Garnett, G, San Francisco: Garnett will not have his option picked up.

29. Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Arizona: The Cardinals will not exercise Nkemdiche’s option.

30. Vernon Butler, DT, Carolina: The Panthers declined to exercise Butler’s option.

31. Germain Ifedi, OT Seattle: The Seahawks will not exercise Ifedi’s option.

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18 responses to “Keeping tabs on the fifth-year options for 2016 first-round draft picks”

  3. The Packers’Kenny Clark will definitely have his option picked up and given a long term contract. Should have been selected to the all pro team after last season.

  4. >>20. Darron Lee, LB, Jets: The Jets have considered trading Lee and seem unlikely to pick up his option.

    Darron Lee is ok to have on the roster since his salary is low when you discount the sunk cost of the signing bonus. But to pay him 10+MM would be absurd.
    He’s suited to be a nickleback or play somewhere where he doens’t have to shed blockers and be the DC on the field.

    He’s worth picking up at the veterans minimum. He’s a very disappointing late first round pick.

  6. 8. Jack Conklin, OT, Tennessee: Will certainly have his fifth-year option picked up.

    He was terrible last year! Picking up his option is a big gamble that he returns to his 2016/17 form before the ACL tear. Mularkey’s offense really helped him out with lots of in line TE play. His slow feet were exposed too much last year.

  7. As far as the first round goes, 2019 was a pretty good year for picks. Most of them have turned out very well. The one position that didn’t fare very well? WRs. Both have been busts.

  8. Karl Joseph, S, Oakland: Jon Gruden has confirmed he plans to pick up the option. – so he won’t. If Gruden would be my friend I would need no enemies.

  12. The Giants picked Apple and were targeting Conklin (and Floyd). Not very impressive. They should have went with the consensus fan pick that year after he dropped to us, Tunsil.

  13. Some of these guys have played well but many are up and down. Joseph was supposed to be the next Ronnie Lott but hasnt come close. Doctson and Treadwell have been major disappointments and I am suprised Paxton Lynch is still in the league.

  14. I watched a rerun of the 2016 draft on NFLN last night and hardly recognized most of those selected. They haven’t made much of an impact yet!

  15. I still remember when Treadslow was drafted, the Viking fans were postitive that a big physical WR is all that was needed to get the Vikings into the Superbowl and win it this time (as opposed to their previous 4 trips some 35 years ago when they went 0-4)

    They forgot to consider one factor, can he even catch the ball? Most teams would have cut the guy based on is on field performance but Spielman & Co don’t want to fess up to what the rest of us can see, the guy’s a bust. OK, not as bad as Troy “Hands of Stone” Williamson but pretty close.

  16. I believe the Eagles could change their minds on Wentz 5th year option if he has another year ending injury, especially if it happens before mid-season! Don’t get me wrong I like him and the league is seriously short on good/great QBs but to quote an old saying: “your best ability is your avalibility” and if you prove you’re often injuried then a teams not going to be as willing to use that 5th year option on you, Especially considering that they’ll be paying top 5 money for you and the way QB pay is going up the last 2yrs I look for teams to be a lot more selective in who they’re willing to give that kind of money too. I’m really shocked that the Titans & Bucs picked up Mariota and Winston’s 5th yr options, but that’s how bad the situation is at QB in the NFL, average & below QBs are making top 5 QB money!

  17. whatjusthapped says:
    April 19, 2019 at 3:42 pm
    I still remember when Treadslow was drafted, the Viking fans were postitive that a big physical WR is all that was needed to get the Vikings into the Superbowl and win it this time (as opposed to their previous 4 trips some 35 years ago when they went 0-4)

    They forgot to consider one factor, can he even catch the ball? Most teams would have cut the guy based on is on field performance but Spielman & Co don’t want to fess up to what the rest of us can see, the guy’s a bust. OK, not as bad as Troy “Hands of Stone” Williamson but pretty close.
    ————
    Even with Treadwell being a bust better than the we corps of D Adams and the scrubs.

  18. 2016: The year NE had a first rounder taken yet they managed to draft Joe Thuney and Elandon Roberts ranked as the 10th and 31st best players selected that year by Profootball reference.

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