The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Is the fifth-year option still a viable option for team building?
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May 6, 2026 A deep dive into how fifth-year option rules and the 2020 CBA tiers are reshaping team decisions. They spotlight surprising picks and declines, from running back bargains to interior line math. The conversation breaks down positional quirks, guarantee effects, and why some teams punt while others lock in talent.
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2020 CBA Transformed Fifth Year Options
- The 2020 CBA made fifth-year options fully guaranteed and added four performance-based salary designations.
- That change raised stakes for teams because options can jump dramatically if players hit playtime or Pro Bowl thresholds.
Positional Grouping Skews Linebacker Value
- Linebackers are grouped with edges for option calculations, inflating off-ball linebacker payouts like Jack Campbell's $22M one-Pro-Bowl number.
- That positional lumping can make teams decline options even for All-Pro players.
Declining Options Can Help Players Monetarily
- Declining an option can benefit players by accelerating free agency and potential bigger deals.
- Robert Mays cites Jack Campbell possibly reaching a larger multi-year deal versus one guaranteed fifth-year salary.