May 2nd was the last day NFL teams had to pick up the 5th year options on players who were drafted in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Most noteably, the Green Bay Packers worked out a deal with Jordan Love on a contract. Love received a 1 year/22 million dollar extension instead of his fifth year option being exercised. What other 5th year options were either picked up or declined?
Green Bay Packs Do NOT Pick Up Jordan Love’s 5th-Year Option (1-year/$22.5M extension)
The new Jordan Love contract is in. The Packers and Love agreed to a 1-year/22 million dollar extension in leu of exercising the 5th year option of his current contract. As a result, Love will earn 13.5 million dollars guaranteed in 2024. Love has yet to get a true chance to play in the NFL but in 2023 the Green Bay Packers offense will run through him.
The Packers just drafted two wide receivers and two tight ends in the 2023 NFL Draft to add to a unit that already has Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillion, and Christian Watson. In the sole game where Love made more than five pass attempts, he threw for 113 yards and a touchdown. Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers and now Jordan Love.
Cincinnati Bengals PICK-UP Joe Burrow’s 5th-Year Option for $29.5M
Joe Burrow has more than established himself as the Bengals franchise quarterback. He has thrown for more than 4,500 yards, averaged 35 passing touchdowns and over 20 fantasy points per game over the past two campaigns. Joe Cool Shades had the highest Accuracy Rating (8.3) and the No. 3 highest True Passer Rating (100.6). Burrow has the moxy, the stats, and before long the bag. Money will look good on Burrow.
Los Angeles Chargers PICK-UP Justin Herbert’s 5th-Year Option for $29.5M
New Offensive Coordinator…check. Add weapons…check. Pick up Herbert’s option…check. Next will come the massive contract extension for Justin Herbert. The quarterback is coming off of his worst year as a pro, but that is still better than most in the sport. He threw for 4,739 passing yards and 25 touchdowns which was good for QB 15 on a points per game basis. Herbert led the league in Money Throws (53) and posted the No. 3 best True Completion Percentage (74.3-percent). Herbert is poised to have a big season in real life and in fantasy football.
Miami Dolphins PICK-UP Tua Tagovailoa’s 5th-Year Option for $23.2M
Tua Tagovailoa has been good in flashes, but 2023 will be a big campaign for the lefty. He has the offensive weapons, Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, and incoming rookie Devon Achane to name a few. He actually finished No. 1 amongst qualified quarterbacks in Yards per Attempt (8.9), Adjusted Yards per Attempt (8.8), Deep Ball Completion Percentage (50-percent), and was the most accurate quarterback against man coverage. Health will always be the biggest concern for Tagovailoa but if he stays on the field, he can put-up big-time numbers.
Kansas City Chiefs Do NOT Pick Up Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s 5th-Year Option
Clyde Edwards Helaire has just been meh with touchdown spikes and that has labeled him as a former first round buster. This is great news for Isiah Pacheco who looks to take over the lead back role in the Patrick Mahomes led offense.
Minnesota Vikings PICK-UP Justin Jefferson’s 5th-Year Option for $19.7M
Justin Jefferson is on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory. No that is not hyperbole, he is on pace to be in Canton one day. Coming off of his best season yet where he piled up 1,809 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, Jefferson is the alpha of the National Football League and it’s not debatable. He leads the world in Targets, Receptions, Receiving Yards, YAC, EPA, and Total Route Wins. Expect two things from Jefferson…massive fantasy numbers and a record setting extension.
Dallas Cowboys PICK-UP CeeDee Lamb’s 5th-Year Option for $18M
CeeDee Lamb has gotten better every year as a professional. His 2022 season was the most productive yet. Lamb finished with 107 receptions for 1,359 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The Dallas Cowboy wide receiver finished as the WR 5. Lamb was Dak Prescott‘s favorite target. He saw the No. 4 most targets in the league with 156 and had nine games with he had double digit targets. Brandin Cooks is now on the team and that should help continue to get Lamb open in the middle of the field. He is easily WR 3 in fantasy and will carry massive expectations going into the 2023 campaign.
San Fransisco 49ers PICK-UP Brandon Aiyuk’s 5th-Year Option for $14.1M
Brandon Aiyuk has been the definition of solid in his first three years in the NFL. He has played in all 17 games in back-to-back seasons and in 2022 he recorded 1,000 receiving yards. Aiyuk is better for the Niners than he is for fantasy squads.
Brandon Aiyuk Advanced Metrics Profile
His 2.09 Yards per Route Run (no. 24 amongst qualified wide receivers), 27-percent Dominator Rating (no. 22), 11.0 Expected Fantasy Points per Game (No. 43), and uncertainty at QB suggests he shouldn’t be relied upon to start 2023 in fantasy football.
Denver Broncos PICK-UP Jerry Jeudy’s 5th-Year Option for $12.9M
Sean Payton is now in Denver and the expectations surrounding the Broncos’ offense have increased. Jerry Jeudy is still looking for his first 1,000 yard season, but he did come close in 2022. He had 67 catches for 972 yards and added six touchdonws.
His 13.6 Fantasy Points per Game was top 20 in fantasy football. If Russell Wilson looks like the Mr. Unlimited in Seattle, then that will raise the output from the former first round pick. Plus, the fact that the Bronco’s picked up Jeudy’s option suggests that they have enough confidence he is the wideout to feature in the offense.
