31 Players, One Deadline, and the Seahawks' Next Big Decision on Jaxon Smith-Njigba

May 1 is coming fast, and NFL front offices are about to make some of the biggest roster decisions of the offseason. The deadline to pick up fifth-year options on the 2023 first-round draft class is here, and teams have to decide right now: keep these guys locked up through 2027, or let them walk into free agency next year.

This matters because the choice is binary. If a team picks up the option, the player stays under contract for a fifth season with a fully guaranteed salary. If they decline it, 2026 is their final year on the rookie deal, and they hit the market as free agents in 2027. For the Seahawks and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, this decision carries real weight as the team looks ahead.

What a Fifth-Year Option Actually Means

Not all fans know how this works, so here's the breakdown. The 2020 collective bargaining agreement gave teams the right to extend first-round picks into a fifth season beyond the standard four-year rookie contract. When the option gets exercised, that fifth-year salary is fully guaranteed. Any base salary in year four that wasn't locked in also becomes guaranteed. The fifth-year pay is tiered based on performance: basic salary, playing time bonuses, one Pro Bowl appearance, or multiple Pro Bowls. It's a safety net for teams, and a security blanket for young stars.

The 2023 Class Is Getting Decisions Made

The 2023 first-round class had 31 total picks after the Miami Dolphins were stripped of their first-round selection due to league policy violations related to the integrity of the game. Teams are now working through the entire class and deciding who stays.

No. 1 pick Bryce Young with the Carolina Panthers is getting picked up, with Young set to earn $26.5 million in 2027 if the option stands. The Panthers GM said they plan to discuss whether an extension makes sense from a big-picture view. No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud with the Houston Texans has already had his option exercised, locking him in at $25.9 million for 2027. Will Anderson Jr., the edge rusher at No. 3 with the Texans, got his option picked up, but Houston and the All-Pro quickly agreed to a three-year, $150 million extension deal instead. That made Anderson the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league, with $134 million guaranteed.

The dominoes are falling. Watch what other teams do over the next two weeks. The Seahawks' front office has decisions to make too.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.