Fifth-year option projections for every first-round player in the 2018 draft class Read full article March 14, 2021, 8:00 AM·33 min read After free agency, and just after the NFL draft closes up shop on May 1, there’s one more way teams can solidify their rosters: The decision to exercise the fifth-year option on first-round draft picks from four years before. The decisions have to be made before May 3, and if the team declines the option on the player, that player becomes a free agent a year earlier, unless a longer-term deal happens. At this time, none of the first-rounders in the 2018 class have signed second contracts; that’s more likely to happen in the 2022 league year. Teams have those players on relatively cheap deals based on slotted contracts; even 2018 first-overall pick Baker Mayfield will make just $920,000 in base salary, and a $4,936,770 roster bonus. His prorated bonus of $5,462,360 will also count against the 2021 cap, so Mayfield represents a 2021 cap hit of $10,569,130. His fifth-year option as a player who’s reached the playtime minimum but hasn’t made a Pro Bowl is $18,858 million, and at that point, it might make more sense from a salary cap perspective to lock him up on that second contract.