NFL Extends 2023 Draft Picks Through 2027

NFL teams are moving to lock in 2023 first-round draft picks by exercising fifth-year options ahead of the May 1 deadline. When a club uses the option, it extends a player’s rookie deal through the 2027 season. Under the 2020 collective bargaining agreement, the option salary becomes fully guaranteed once it is exercised and is set using a four-tier pay structure.

Several franchises have already made their decisions on cornerstone players. The Carolina Panthers exercised Bryce Young’s option, which guarantees him $26.5 million in 2027. The Houston Texans picked up options for C.J. Stroud, valued at $25.9 million in 2027, and Will Anderson, and later signed Anderson to a three-year, $150 million extension that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback.

The Seattle Seahawks also acted on multiple first-rounders from that class. Seattle exercised Devon Witherspoon’s option, valued at approximately $21.2 million, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s option for $23.9 million. The team later signed Smith-Njigba to a four-year, $168.6 million extension, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.

Other teams have used the option mechanism to secure additional control over key starters and emerging contributors. The Arizona Cardinals exercised the option for Paris Johnson Jr. at $19 million. The Atlanta Falcons exercised Bijan Robinson’s option. The Chicago Bears picked up Darnell Wright’s option at $19.072 million, while the Tennessee Titans exercised Peter Skoronski’s option at $19.07 million.

More option decisions include the New England Patriots for Christian Gonzalez at $18.1 million and the Minnesota Vikings for Jordan Addison at $18 million. The Buffalo Bills exercised Dalton Kincaid’s option at $8.1 million. The Jacksonville Jaguars exercised Anton Harrison’s option at $19 million. Across the league, these moves add a year of contractual certainty for teams and players, while keeping the door open for longer-term negotiations.

What it means: Fifth-year options are a key roster-management tool because they can secure a premium player for an extra season without immediately committing to a multi-year deal. The structure also shapes the timing of extension talks, as teams often use the option as a bridge to longer contracts, while players may seek earlier guarantees beyond the option year.

The remaining decisions before May 1 will determine which 2023 first-rounders are kept under team control through 2027 and which may face a faster path to contract uncertainty.