The window officially opened on January 6, and each NFL team has until May 1 to decide whether to exercise or decline the fully guaranteed 5th-year options for the first-round picks from the 2022 NFL Draft class for the 2026 season. The values are determined based on four unique tiers: basic, playtime, one Pro Bowl, and multiple Pro Bowls. Over The Cap goes through each tier in further detail and a projected value for each player.
1st Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars EDGE (LB) Travon Walker: $16,060,000
Walker had an underwhelming rookie season and did not have the best statistical season for a first-overall selection. He recorded 49 tackles, five TFLs, ten QB hits, 3.5 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble in 15 games and 14 starts, along with five tackles, one TFL, three QB hits, and 0.5 sacks in the postseason. He missed two games (Weeks 15 and 16) with a high-ankle sprain.
Walker performed much better in his second season compared to his disappointing rookie season. He recorded 52 tackles, ten TFLs, 19 QB hits, and ten sacks in 17 starts.
Walker had his best statistical season in his third season, boasting career-highs in tackles, TFLs, and sacks. He recorded 61 tackles, 13 TFLs, 15 QB hits, 10.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 17 starts.
PREDICTION: Jacksonville EXERCISES his 5th-year option because Walker has developed into a talented and reliable pusher who makes a great complement to Josh Hines-Allen.
2nd Pick: Detroit Lions EDGE (LB) Aidan Hutchinson: $22,612,000
Hutchinson had a great rookie season. He recorded 52 tackles, nine TFLs, 15 QB hits, 9.5 sacks, and three interceptions in 17 starts.
Hutchinson had a great second season, boasting career-highs in tackles for loss, QB hits, and sacks, earning himself his first Pro Bowl selection. He recorded 51 tackles, 14 TFLs, 33 QB hits, 11.5 sacks, one interception, and three forced fumbles in 17 starts. He also had ten tackles, three TFLs, eight QB hits, and three sacks in the postseason.
Hutchinson was on his way to having his best statistical season before an injury cut short his third season. He recorded 19 tackles, seven TFLs, 17 QB hits, 7.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in five starts. He suffered a season-ending broken fibula and tibia during Week 6.
PREDICTION: Detroit EXERCISES his 5th-year option because Hutchinson has developed into one of the league’s top pass rushers.
3rd Pick: Houston Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.: $17,198,000
Stingley had a solid start to his rookie season before an injury cut short his season. He recorded 43 tackles, one interception, and five pass deflections, allowing 34 receptions on 54 targets for 409 yards and a 78.4 passer rating in nine starts. He suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 10.
Stingley had a great second season after missing six games (Weeks 3-9) with another hamstring injury. He recorded 39 tackles, five interceptions, and 13 pass deflections, allowing 23 receptions on 48 targets for 288 yards, two touchdowns, and a 41.3 passer rating in 11 starts. He also had five tackles and one pass deflection in the postseason.
Stingley had a great third season, boasting career-highs in pass deflections and tying with last season for his most interceptions, earning himself his first Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro selection. He recorded 54 tackles, five interceptions, and 18 pass deflections, allowing 40 receptions on 85 targets for 382 yards, four touchdowns, and a 51.2 passer rating in 17 starts. He also had seven tackles, two interceptions, and five pass deflections in the postseason.
PREDICTION: Houston EXERCISES his 5th-year option because Stingley Jr. has developed into one of the league’s top cornerbacks.
4th Pick: New York Jets CB Sauce Gardner $20,357,000
Gardner had a great rookie season, boasting career-highs in interceptions and pass deflections, earning himself his first Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro selection, and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. He recorded 75 tackles, two interceptions, and 20 pass deflections, allowing 46 receptions on 86 targets for 452 yards, one touchdown, and a 62.7 passer rating in 17 starts.
Gardner had a great second season, earning himself his second Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro selection. He recorded 57 tackles and 11 pass deflections, allowing 31 receptions on 55 targets for 332 yards, one touchdown, and an 80.3 passer rating in 16 starts.
Gardner took a slight step in production in his third season but still had a solid season. He recorded 49 tackles, one interception, and nine pass deflections, allowing 33 receptions on 58 targets for 541 yards, one touchdown, and an 86.9 passer rating in 15 starts. He missed two games (Weeks 14 and 18) with a nagging hamstring injury.
PREDICTION: New York EXERCISES his 5th-year option because Gardner has developed into one of the league’s top cornerbacks.
5th Pick: New York Giants EDGE (LB) Kayvon Thibodeaux: $16,060,000
Thibodeaux had a solid rookie season. He recorded 49 tackles, six TFLs, 13 QB hits, four sacks, and two forced fumbles in 14 starts, along with 11 tackles and one QB hit in the postseason. He missed the first two games with an MCL sprain.
Thibodeaux had a great second season, boasting career-highs in tackles, TFLs, and sacks. He recorded 50 tackles, 12 TFLs, 16 QB hits, 11.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 17 starts.
Thibodeaux took a slight step back in production in his third season after battling an injury earlier in the season. He recorded 28 tackles, eight TFLs, 17 QB hits, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 starts. He missed five games (Weeks 6-11) with a wrist injury that required surgery.
PREDICTION: New York EXERCISES his 5th-year option because Thibodeaux has developed into a talented and reliable pass rusher who makes a great complement to Brian Burns.
6th Pick: Carolina Panthers LT (OL) Ikem Ekwonu: $18,427,000
Ekwonu had a solid rookie season. He allowed 27 pressures, 20 hurries, one QB hit, and six sacks while posting a 67.5 pass block, a 64.0 run block, and a 65.3 overall PFF grade in 17 starts.
Ekwonu took a slight step in production in his second season as he struggled in pass protection but improved in run blocking. He allowed 44 pressures, 24 hurries, nine QB hits, and 11 sacks while posting a 62.3 pass block, a 77.0 run block, and a 67.4 overall PFF grade in 17 starts.
Ekwonu had his best season in his third season, improving in pass protection and run blocking. He allowed 39 pressures, 27 hurries, five QB hits, and seven sacks while posting a 66.2 pass block, an 80.5 run block, and a 71.7 overall PFF grade in 15 starts. He missed two games (Weeks 9 and 10) with an ankle injury.
PREDICTION: Carolina EXERCISES his 5th-year option because Ekwonu has developed into a solid starting left tackle and will continue to improve and get better.
7th Pick: New York Giants RT (OL) Evan Neal: $17,412,000
Neal had an underwhelming rookie season and battled an injury. He allowed 39 pressures, 22 hurries, ten QB hits, and seven sacks while posting a 47.5 pass block, a 48.2 run block, and a 44.1 overall PFF grade in 13 starts. He missed four games (Weeks 8-12) with an MCL sprain.
Neal had an underwhelming second season and missed more than half of the season due to injury. He allowed 29 pressures, 22 hurries, five QB hits, and two sacks while posting a 38.5 pass block, a 51.1 run block, and a 39.8 overall PFF grade in seven starts. He missed Weeks 7-8 and the last eight games with an ankle injury.
Neal had a decent third season after missing the first seven games to recover from last season’s ankle injury and, upon returning, struggled in pass protection but showed significant improvement in run blocking. He allowed 17 pressures, ten hurries, five QB hits, and two sacks while posting a 49.6 pass block, an 80.8 run block, and a 61.2 overall PFF grade in nine games and seven starts.
PREDICTION: New York DECLINES his 5th-year option because Neal has not lived up to the first-round pick, struggles when he plays, and not being able to stay healthy.
8th Pick: Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London: $16,633,000
London had a solid second season. He caught 72 passes on 117 targets for 866 yards and four touchdowns in 17 starts.
London had an even better second season and showed slight improvement. He caught 69 passes on 110 targets for 905 yards and two touchdowns in 16 starts.
London had his best statistical season in his season, boasting career-highs in receptions, targets, yards, and touchdowns. He caught 100 passes on 158 targets for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 starts.
PREDICTION: Atlanta EXERCISES his 5th-year option because London has developed into a star wide receiver and the team’s WR1 of the future.
