fifth-year options – Misryoum reviews the 2023 first-round fifth-year option decisions, with 22 exercised and nine not.
One decision from the 2023 NFL Draft is shaping roster expectations years later: whether teams would pick up each player’s fifth-year option.
Misryoum reports that the 2023 first round ultimately produced 31 selections, and as the calendar moved forward, the league’s fifth-year option process became a key sorting mechanism. In total, 22 of those first-round picks had their options exercised, while nine were left unpicked.
For fans, these calls are often a snapshot of a team’s confidence in early-round investment, but they also hint at how clubs plan to manage salary and long-term roster building.
The list includes several prominent “yes” decisions, starting with Bryce Young and C.J.. Stroud at quarterback, both with the option exercised.. Will Anderson Jr.. also had his option picked up. along with players such as Devon Witherspoon. Paris Johnson Jr.. Bijan Robinson. Jalen Carter. Darnell Wright. Jahmyr Gibbs. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.. Other exercised options among the group cover a wide range of positions, from offensive linemen to defenders and playmakers.
Meanwhile, Misryoum notes that not every team chose to extend that deal for an additional year.. Quarterback Anthony Richardson was among the players whose option was not exercised. and the same outcome applied to several other notable names including Tyree Wilson. Broderick Jones. Emmanuel Forbes Jr.. Jack Campbell. Calijah Kancey’s slot depending on the decision. and others listed in the year’s “no” category.. Some of these cases reflect shifting assessments, fit within a team’s direction, or the economics of the position market.
By the end of the exercise period, two of the non-option decisions had already moved beyond the question, with long-term deals reported for two players from the 2023 first round.
A striking part of the overall picture is how unevenly the “exercised” and “not exercised” outcomes fell across positions. Misryoum’s takeaway is that teams were comfortable paying for established early value in many cases, while choosing different paths for others as projections evolved.
In the bigger scheme, fifth-year option decisions can set the tone for how quickly a franchise believes a player can lead, contribute, and justify a larger commitment. It is a small line item on paper, but it often carries outsized impact on both team strategy and player leverage.