5th Year Options Due Today

[JustinTime18™]

• TREMAINE EDMUNDSLB, BUFFALO BILLS

  Bills exercised LB Tremaine Edmunds' fifth-year team option for 2022. The Bills' "other" first-rounder in 2018, Edmunds literally just turned 23. He has spent the first three years of his career flying around the middle of the Bills defense, making big plays but earning poor marks from Pro Football Focus. The Bills are wisely gambling that a player so young will continue to grow more disciplined while doing a little bit of everything as an every-down player. Improving in coverage would greatly enhance Edmunds' future projection. 
  

  May 3, 2021, 11:28 AM ET
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  JOSH ALLENQB, BUFFALO BILLS

  Bills exercised QB Josh Allen's fifth-year team option for 2022. The same is true for LB Tremaine Edmunds. Coming off one of the most stunning third-year leaps in NFL history, 24-year-old Allen revealed himself to be an MVP contender instead of franchise quarterback question mark in 2020. His campaign was the definition of "putting it all together," and has the Bills in the conference title mix after more than two decades in the AFC wilderness. Allen is also a top-three Dynasty quarterback, one who can carry teams with both his passing and rushing. 
  RELATED: 

  • Tremaine Edmunds

  May 3, 2021, 11:21 AM ET
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RASHAAD PENNYRB, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seahawks declined RB Rashaad Penny's fifth-year team option for 2022. Widely first guessed as a 2018 first-round pick, Penny flashed some big-play juice in 2018-19 before suffering a devastating knee injury. He was active for only three games in 2020 and is already 25 years old. Just 17 of Penny's 178 career touches are receptions. He will get one last chance at establishing himself as a dynamic change-of-pace back in 2021 before reaching free agency. 

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on TwitterMay 3, 2021, 11:02 AM ET
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TERRELL EDMUNDSDB, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Steelers declined S Terrell Edmunds' fifth-year team option for 2022. Edmunds had his best statistical season in 2020, as well as his highest PFF grade, but the Steelers did not see enough improvement after his underwhelming 2018-19. With fifth-year options now fully guaranteed, teams are not going to exercise them just because. Edmunds does still have youth and durability on his side. He has missed only one game in three years and just turned 24 in January. It is still possible he plays himself into a second deal in Pittsburgh. 

May 3, 2021, 10:58 AM ET
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CALVIN RIDLEYWR, ATLANTA FALCONS
Falcons exercised WR Calvin Ridley's fifth-year team option for 2022. This one is as close to a no-brainer as you will ever see. The No. 26 overall pick of the 2018 Draft is now guaranteed $11.1 million for 2022, though there is a strong chance he signs an extension before then. One of the league's most technically gifted wideouts, Ridley was largely uncontainable regardless of Julio Jones' health in 2020. Locked in as an elite, weekly WR1, Ridley is one of the most valuable players in all of Dynasty. 

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• HAYDEN HURSTTE, ATLANTA FALCONS

  Falcons won't exercise TE Hayden Hurst's fifth-year option. Hurst will be a free agent in 2022. Atlanta went all in on phenom tight end Kyle Pitts, taking him with the fourth pick in the 2021 draft, thereby ending Hurst's 2021 fantasy relevance. Hurst in 2020 saw encouraging usage in the Falcons offense, running the fourth most routes among tight ends on his way to 85 targets, the ninth most among tight ends. Even with heavy usage, Hurst averaged the 15th most tight end fantasy points per game. It wouldn't be surprising if another team signed Hurst as their primary pass-catching tight end in 2022. 
  RELATED: 

  • Kyle Pitts

  SOURCE: Jeremy Fowler on TwitterMay 3, 2021, 9:18 AM ET
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RASHAAN EVANSLB, TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans did not exercise the fifth-year option on LB Rashaan Evans' contract. The team's plan, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, is to sign Evans -- the No. 22 overall pick in 2018 -- to a contract extension before his deal runs out at the end of the 2021 season. Pro Football Focus graded Evans, 25, as the NFL's best tackling linebacker in 2020. He was PFF's 31st overall linebacker last season. 

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

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Jane Slater

@SlaterNFL

·14s

#Cowboys informed

@deuce21, Ron Slavin that they will not be exercising LB Leighton Vander Esch’s 5th-year option due to ongoing salary-cap uncertainty and instead hope to sign Leighton to a contract extension before his current deal expires in 2022.

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The 5th year extension is sort of the division line between hit and miss in the 1st round. Ours was a miss, even though almost entirely due to injury. Curious to see who gets it and who doesn't and what that percentage is. 

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Mike Hughes will NOT be having his option picked up.

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According to multiple reports, the Vikings have declined to pick up cornerback Mike Hughes’ fifth-year option.
The 30th overall pick of the 2018 draft, Hughes has appeared in just 24 games with seven starts since Minnesota selected him. In 2020, Hughes played four games with two starts, recording one pass defensed.
In all, Hughes has a pair of interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown — three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 13 passes defensed in three seasons.
Hughes tore his ACL as a rookie, playing just six games in 2018. While he was on the field for 14 games in 2019, he did not appear in the playoffs with a neck injury. Neck issues also limited Hughes to four contests in 2020. He was placed on injured reserve in late October and did not come off the list through the rest of the season.
Per Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, Hughes has returned to full health entering the 2021 season.

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MIKE HUGHESDB, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Vikings declined CB Mike Hughes' fifth-year option for the 2022 season.As expected. Minnesota's former No. 30 overall pick would have been guaranteed $12.643 million if the team had exercised his option. Hughes has played in just 24 of 48 possible games in his three seasons with the Vikings, dealing with severe neck injuries the past two years. His spot on the roster in 2021, albeit for only $648,076, isn't a lock since the team could save $1,177,490 in releasing him.

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

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Around The NFL

@AroundTheNFL

·16m

Patriots likely to decline RB Sony Michel's fifth-year option, pick up OT Isaiah Wynn's option (per

@RapSheet)

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I feel bad for Mike Hughes, but this is a nice opportunity for him to ball out in a prove it in a contract year. That would certainly benefit the Vikes