JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars picked up the fifth-year options on both Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne on Monday, a formality that locks those two into Jacksonville for next year and more than likely, the foreseeable future.
The team made the official announcement Monday afternoon, just two days after general manager Trent Baalke said following the NFL draft that the team was going to exercise those options. The team had until May 2 to do that.
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What is the fifth-year option?
All players drafted in the first round have an additional option that can be exercised by teams. All rookie contracts are for four years.
According to OverTheCap.com, the 2020 collective bargaining agreement allows teams to exercise a fifth-year option for players drafted in the first round as an addition to the standard four-year rookie contract. Upon being exercised, the fifth-year option is fully guaranteed, and any base salary in the player’s fourth year that was not fully guaranteed will become so. The fifth-year salary is calculated based on four tiers: Basic, playing time, one Pro Bowl and multiple Pro Bowls.
Players in the 2021 draft class like Etienne and Lawrence are eligible to have those picked up this year. Others in that class like Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins), Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals) and Micah Parsons (Cowboys) have already had their options picked up. Eagles receiver Devonta Smith and Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell had their options picked up, but the teams also recently signed those players to lucrative contract extensions.
The Jaguars are currently in discussions with Lawrence on a new contract that will likely make him one of the highest, if not the highest, paid player in the league.