The 2021 NFL Draft has been lauded for its plethora of quarterbacks who went in the first round, headlined by Trevor Lawrence going first overall to Jacksonville. While Lawrence has proven to be a capable signal caller under center for the Jaguars, the rest of the quarterbacks have been disappointing, if not downright bad.
Sure, the rest of the QBs may not have had as much of an impact on the NFL as their teams would have hoped, but that doesn’t mean this draft class is devoid of superstar talent. Ja’Marr Chase, Micah Parsons, Patrick Surtain II and DeVonta Smith are just a few of the non-quarterback studs to come out of this draft and now those who were selected in the first round are reaching a crucial milestone in their young careers. .
NFL teams have until Tuesday, May 2 to exercise the fifth-year option on the rookie contracts of their first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. This move will ensure that the player will be under team control until the 2025 season.
Below, you’ll find every first-rounder in this 2021 class who is eligible for the fifth-year option and whether or not their team has decided to use it.
Follow-up of fifth year options
Cowboys will pick up Micah Parsons option
March 6. — It’s no surprise that the Cowboys would pick up Parsons’ fifth-year option. That said, the team is doing some maneuvering by giving he would have been offered to him as a defensive winger rather than a linebacker, a move that will save the franchise approximately $3 million.
Eagles sign DeVonta Smith to extension
April 15. — Philadelphia agreed on a three-year extension with Smith, which includes the club picking up his fifth-year option. So, the wideout is now tied to the Eagles for the next five years in total. The three-year extension would be worth $75 million.
Dolphins pick up Jaylen Waddle option
April 16. — Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters the team will choose Waddle’s fifth-year optionguaranteeing that the former first-rounder will be with Miami at least through the 2025 season. Waddle recorded thousand-yard campaigns in each of his first three seasons in the league.
Dolphins pick up Jaelan Phillips option
April 16. — While announcing they would pick up Waddle’s option, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said the plan was to also take up Phillips’ option. Phillips is recovering from an Achilles injury last season, but when healthy, he has proven to be an impact player on the defensive side of the ball.