Players in the 2022 ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøDraft just wrapped their third regular seasons, meaning teams will now make decisions on fifth-year options for the first-rounders in the class.
All drafted rookies are given four-year contracts to begin their careers -- and when it comes to players selected in the first round, teams have the option to extend that pact for a fifth year, a decision they have to make heading into Year 4. The fifth-year-option window for the Class of 2022 opened Jan. 6, with the final deadline set for May 1. Today, I'm taking a look at the 32 eligible selections from Round 1 back in 2022, providing my opinion on whether or not each of the players merits the fifth-year option.
Exercise the option? Yes.
The Jaguars' decision to take Walker over Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 1 overall pick was quite controversial, and we’ve seen why, as no player in this class has been as productive as Hutchinson. Regardless, Walker has shown enough so far, generating back-to-back seasons of double-digit sacks in 2023 and ’24. With a new staff coming in this offseason, Walker will be a building block the team should want to keep for the foreseeable future.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Hutchinson has been everything you want in a pass rusher. He averaged 10.5 sacks over his first two seasons (earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2023) and was on pace to shatter that figure in 2024 before a broken tibia ended his regular season after just five games. Despite missing 12 games, Hutchinson still led Detroit in sacks (7.5) and QB hits (17), and there’s a chance he returns to play in the Super Bowl if the Lions make it that far. What a great storyline that would be. Looking ahead to the offseason, presuming Hutchinson's recovery continues on track, the Lions will no doubt make him one of the highest-paid defenders in the NFL, now that he's eligible for an extension. He’s earned it. In the meantime, exercising the fifth-year option is an automatic move to make.
Exercise the option? Yes.
This is a no-brainer, as Stingley has become one of the best young cornerbacks in the league. A tone-setter for Houston’s secondary, he just had the best campaign of his young career, racking up 54 tackles and five interceptions and earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Per Next Gen Stats, Stingley has allowed a 56.9 passer rating as the nearest defender this season, the lowest among cornerbacks with a minimum of 25 targets. He’s going to be a staple for DeMeco Ryans’ defense for years to come.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Though Gardner is coming off a down year amid another tumultuous Jets season, he was a first-team All-Pro in his first two seasons and the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. I won't be surprised if the new regime extends Gardner this offseason. Lockdown cornerbacks are hard to come by in this league, and the Jets have a guy who’ll likely return to that status with a better environment around him.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Thibodeaux hasn’t quite had the production Big Blue envisioned, but injuries (he missed games as a rookie and in 2024) have certainly played a part in that. His best season undoubtedly occurred in 2023, when he logged 11.5 sacks, four passes defensed and three forced fumbles. He’s certainly done enough for New York to exercise the fifth-year option. I’d imagine the organization wants to keep the dominant defensive line trio of Thibodeaux, Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence intact.
Exercise the option? Yes.
The Panthers surely would have liked to see the player they drafted sixth overall be more dominant at the left tackle position. He's had an up-and-down three seasons, proving himself to be rock solid in the run game while struggling too often as a pass blocker; he's allowed 29.5 sacks in his career, per Next Gen Stats. Ekwonu must improve in that area if the Panthers offense is to take a step forward in 2025.
Exercise the option? No.
Neal hasn’t played more than 13 games in any of his three pro seasons, failing to reach double-digit appearances in each of the past two, and he’s allowed 19.5 sacks and a concerning 128 pressures in 29 career games, per NGS. The right tackle has shown little sign of improvement and even reverted to early in the 2024 campaign. The Giants likely won't exercise Neal’s fifth-year option as they continue to retool the offensive line for the future.
Exercise the option? Yes.
London has proven to be every bit the playmaker everyone thought he’d be when he came into the league. He’s a big-bodied receiver with excellent hands, and he’s out-produced himself in each of his first three seasons, finishing with 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns on 100 receptions in 2024 (all career highs). London has already built a promising rapport with rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as well, connecting for 22 catches, 352 yards and two touchdowns in Penix’s three starts to close the season. Atlanta is building toward a bright future offensively, and London is a huge part of that.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Cross is a good building block along Seattle’s offensive line who has steadily improved over the course of his first three seasons. His pressures-allowed rate decreased in each campaign (it fell to 11.5% this season), and he should continue that trend as Seattle works toward getting more continuity up front.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Wilson has been the most consistent player on the Jets offense since he arrived in New York. The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year has compiled more than 1,000 receiving yards in each season, racking up 14 total touchdowns. What’s more impressive is that he’s done it while catching passes from this cast of quarterbacks in the last three seasons: Zach Wilson, Mike White, Joe Flacco, Chris Streveler, Trevor Siemian, Tim Boyle, Aaron Rodgers and . The 6-foot, 183-pound receiver also quietly logged 101 catches in another forgettable Jets season -- though he did made some big waves with .
Exercise the option? Yes.
Olave put up more than 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons, finally giving the Saints a true No. 1 receiver for the first time since before Michael Thomas’ injury problems -- but then multiple concussions sidelined Olave more than half of 2024. When healthy, he has proven to be a dynamic deep threat. With a new coaching staff taking on a restrictive , picking up Olave’s fifth-year option is the obvious choice for New Orleans.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Williams has had his fair share of off-the-field issues (see: gambling and PED suspensions), and his career got off to a slow start while he recovered from a knee injury sustained in college. But the team’s patience and willingness to help him reach his full potential appears to have paid off. The Alabama product has become the dynamic element for the Lions offense that we all envisioned, opening up the field for the rest of his teammates and gaining plenty of yards after the catch. Reaching 1,000 receiving yards in Week 18 was a nice button on the 2024 regular season for Williams.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Davis has been a solid player for the Eagles, though not the game-wrecker many initially thought he’d be. After starting out as a rotational player as a rookie, he's started in every game over the last two seasons (including the playoffs). Davis hasn’t produced big numbers on the stat sheet like 2023 first-rounder Jalen Carter, but he has taken on a lot of the dirty work for Philly. Keeping Davis and Carter together on the defensive interior should be a priority.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Hamilton has become a do-it-all playmaker for the Ravens over the past two seasons, earning a pair of Pro Bowl bids along the way. In this season alone, Hamilton made 107 tackles while taking snaps at outside linebacker, slot corner, wide corner and free safety. And since moving back to a full-time free safety role, he’s been instrumental in the defense’s second-half resurgence. Hamilton is the ideal defensive back.
Exercise the option? No.
Green has struggled to stay healthy, missing the entire 2023 season with a torn labrum and suffering another shoulder injury in 2024 that forced him to miss five games. The Texans must revamp their offensive line, with C.J. Stroud taking too many sacks (52) this season. In 327 pass-blocking snaps, Green allowed six sacks and 37 QB pressures, per NGS, giving him the second-highest mark on the team in sack rate (1.8%) and the highest in pressure rate (11.3%). I could see Houston moving in another direction.
Exercise the option? No.
Original drafting team: Washington Commanders
Washington’s plan to pair Dotson with Terry McLaurin as a dynamic wide receiver duo never panned out, leading to his trade to Philadelphia in August. Dotson recorded just over 1,000 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons with the Commanders, and I ultimately thought the Eagles got a steal when trading for him. But he hasn’t shown much as the third or fourth option in the passing game, finishing the regular season with just 19 catches and 216 yards.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Johnson has been a solid player for the Chargers, missing just two games in three seasons, but there is still room for him to grow as a run- and pass-blocker. Knowing Jim Harbaugh prioritizes the offensive line, I think the Chargers will likely exercise the option.
Exercise the option? No.
Burks has been a major disappointment. There was some public pressure on Burks to be the Titans’ next WR1 after he was selected with the first-round choice acquired in the trade that sent A.J. Brown to Philadelphia, but that scenario hasn’t come to fruition. Burks enjoyed his best campaign as a rookie, when he logged 33 receptions, 444 receiving yards and one touchdown (the only score of his career). Burks’ 2024 season was cut short by a non-contact injury after just five gams. Plenty of change is coming in Tennessee. Hiring a new general manager and trying to figure out the quarterback position are the jobs atop the to-do list, but solving the wide receiver spot shouldn’t be far behind. 
Exercise the option? No.
Penning began his career at left tackle but switched to right tackle this season. He didn’t see the field much as a rookie and disappointed as the starter in Year 2, and then New Orleans drafted tackle Taliese Fuaga last April. Simply put, Penning just hasn’t been good enough to keep around long-term.
Exercise the option? No.
Original drafting team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pickett is already on his second team and might have just lost his place as QB2 to Tanner McKee, thanks to a rib injury for Pickett that gave McKee a chance to play well in two appearances for the Eagles. Pickett is likely destined for backup duty for the remainder of his career.
Exercise the option? Yes.
McDuffie has been a cornerstone for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, and he's become even more productive without having L’Jarius Sneed on the field in 2024. During his All-Pro campaign in 2023, McDuffie allowed a 101.3 passer rating when targeted in coverage, per NGS, spending most of his time in the slot. This season, he moved outside to help make up for Sneed's departure in free agency -- and he’s surrendering a mark of 82.9. Emerging as one of the best cornerbacks in 2024, McDuffie will look to make more waves in the postseason and in the years to come in K.C.
Exercise the option? Yes.
To me, Walker has become a little more expendable, thanks to the emergence of rookie Edgerrin Cooper, but he has still posted more than 100 tackles in each of his three seasons, despite playing more than 14 games in only one of them. Green Bay should want to keep this solid tandem intact in the middle of its defense.
Exercise the option? No.
When Elam arrived, he was in position to learn a ton from the established veterans on the Bills' defense. However, since then, Elam has only played in 29 games (12 starts) over three seasons, with his on-field product being a mixed bag. He's made some good plays at times, but his usage (he appeared on 35 percent of the Bills' defensive snaps this season) seems like a clear sign that Buffalo won't pick up his fifth-year option.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Smith started out at left tackle and struggled at the spot, giving up five sacks and 58 pressures as a rookie, per NGS. The Cowboys moved him to guard, where he settled in and made a Pro Bowl in 2023. He’s become a mainstay along the offensive line as a dominant run-blocker and improving pass-blocker.
Exercise the option? Yes.
This is an easy one. Linderbaum might be the best center in the league at this point. He’s missed just two games in three seasons and earned his first Pro Bowl nod this season. He’s a staple for a very good Ravens offensive line, which is paving the way for one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Exercise the option? Yes.
After recording a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2023, which earned him a Pro Bowl selection, Johnson’s third season in the ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøended prematurely when he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 2. He’s been good when available, and hopefully, he’ll resume being the player he was before the injury once he recovers.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Lloyd came into the ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøwith very high expectations, based on his versatile skill set, and he’s been productive, generating more than 110 tackles in each season, compiling a total of four interceptions and 19 passes defensed. He’ll be a good player for the new coaching staff to have in the middle of the defense.
Exercise the option? No.
Wyatt hasn’t established himself as a starter in three seasons, taking 50 percent or fewer of the Packers' defensive snaps each year. Posting 12 sacks in 47 games just isn’t enough production from a first-round pick to merit picking up the fifth-year option.
Exercise the option? No.
Strange was a controversial selection in 2022, and he hasn’t done much to quiet questions about his ability since then, with injuries keeping him off the field for all but 13 games in the last two years. New England desperately needs to improve its offensive line to help Drake Maye develop. Regardless of who is hired as the team's next head coach, it’s tough to see the Pats wanting to exercise Strange’s option.
Exercise the option? Yes.
Karlaftis is a gritty pass rusher who has played an important role in Kansas City’s run to back-to-back Super Bowls. With 24.5 career sacks, including eight this season, he fits what Steve Spagnuolo wants to do defensively by making timely plays and getting to the quarterback.
Exercise the option? No.
Hill has endured some injuries, missing a majority of the 2024 season with a significant knee injury, and the overall production hasn’t quite been there. He started every game in 2023 but received a 42.9 pass coverage grade by Pro Football Focus after allowing more than 70 percent of passes to be completed when he was targeted in coverage. The secondary has been the downfall of the Bengals' D in recent seasons, and unfortunately, Hill has been a part of that struggle.
Exercise the option? Not eligible
Original drafting team: Minnesota Vikings
Cine’s career never took off in Minnesota, as he suffered a compound fracture of his left leg in his third career game. He missed the remainder of his rookie season and played in just seven games -- mostly on special teams -- the following year, ultimately leading to his release in August 2024, making him ineligible for a fifth-year option. He spent time on the Bills' practice squad this year, then was heading into the playoffs.
