Teams making decisions about picking up the fifth-year options on the contracts of their 2023 first-round picks now know how much that will cost.
The NFL revealed the values on Friday afternoon. There are four levels of compensation at each position. Players who have made multiple Pro Bowls as an original selection are at the top followed by players with one Pro Bowl selection and players who have hit playing time milestones before reaching the lowest level.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud were the first two picks of that draft and both of them reached the playing time level of compensation. That will leave them with fully guaranteed salaries of $25.904 million if the teams decide to exercise the options, but longer-term extensions are also a possibility now that they have finished their third seasons.
The full list of 2023 first-rounders — there were 31 that year because the Dolphins were stripped of their pick — and their fifth-year option salaries appears below:
1. Panthers QB Bryce Young — $25.904 million (playing time).
2. Texans QB C.J. Stroud — $25.904 million (playing time).
3. Texans DE Will Anderson — $21.512 (Pro Bowl).
4. Colts QB Anthony Richardson — $22.483 million (base).
5. Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon — $21.161 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
6. Cardinals OT Paris Johnson — $19.072 million (playing time).
7. Raiders DE Tyree Wilson — $14.475 million (base).
8. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson — $11.323 million (Pro Bowl).
9. Eagles DT Jalen Carter — $27.127 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
10. Bears OT Darnell Wright — $19.072 million (playing time).
11. Titans OG Peter Skoronski — $19.072 million (playing time).
12. Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs — $14.293 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
13. Packers DE Lukas Van Ness — $14.475 million (base).
14. Steelers OT Broderick Jones — $19.072 million (playing time).
15. Jets DE Will McDonald — $14.475 million (base).
16. Rams CB Emmanuel Forbes — $12.633 million (base).
17. Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez — $18.119 million (Pro Bowl).
18. Lions LB Jack Campbell — $21.925 million (Pro Bowl).
19. Buccaneers DT Calijah Kancey — $15.451 (playing time).
20. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba — $23.852 million (Pro Bowl).
21. Chargers WR Quentin Johnston — $18 million (playing time).
22. Ravens WR Zay Flowers — $27.298 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
23. Vikings WR Jordan Addison — $18 million (playing time).
24. Giants CB Deonte Banks — $12.633 million (base).
25. Bills TE Dalton Kincaid — $8.162 million (base).
26. Jets DT Mazi Smith — $13.391 million (base) Smith was traded to the Jets by the Cowboys.
27. Jaguars OT Anton Harrison — $19.072 million (playing time).
28. Bengals DE Myles Murphy — $14.475 million (base).
29. Saints DT Bryan Bresee — $13.391 million (base).
30. Eagles LB Nolan Smith — $13.752 million (base).
31. Chiefs Felix Anudike-Uzomah — $14.475 million (base).
The 49ers are set to play games in Melbourne and Mexico City during the 2026 season and that sets the NFC West club up for a lot of traveling over their 17-game schedule.
The total mileage for their road trips totals more than 38,000 miles and General Manager John Lynch told Jennifer Lee Chan of NBCSportsBayArea.com that the team is looking into anything they can do to alleviate the stresses that come with that much travel. Lynch also said that the team’s conversations with the league have them expecting some other scheduling considerations that mitigate all the time away from the Bay Area.
“We’ve talked with the league, and the league has assured us they’ll give us the grace in the back end,” Lynch said. “Things that we’re not going to go into, but in terms of scheduling, to help ease that burden. It’s part of another challenge. I think we will set a record for the amount of travel in a year, but we always travel a lot. It just got a little bit more because of the distance of Australia. Part of it is exciting. We’ll embrace it, make the most of it. We’ll be smart about the way we approach it.”
The 49ers may get some relief from their extended travels in the final weeks of the season, but they’ll have to handle the schedule well for those games to hold the kind of weight that the 49ers hope they will at this point in the calendar.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said last month that he would be “very surprised” if Mac Jones is not with the team for the 2026 season, but the 49ers aren’t going to be rejecting calls from other teams about the quarterback.
Jones showed he’s capable of being a starter while Brock Purdy was out of action with a toe injury in 2025 and that could make him a trade target for other teams who aren’t as well stocked at the position as the Niners. On Tuesday, General Manager John Lynch said that any of those teams will have to put together a compelling package in order for the 49ers to think about moving their backup.
“He’s really good for us and we value that,” Lynch said, via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. “And so somebody would have to come with something fairly strong for us to consider. And then I don’t know what we do. Obviously there’s always something that would make you [do it], but I think we’re a better team with him on it and we just like having him around.”
Jones said this month that he believes he’s “proven” his ability to be a starter, but he’ll need an opportunity as well and it’s not a sure thing that one of them will materialize this offseason.
One of the hot topics on Tuesday at the Scouting Combine was the future of Eagles receiver A.J. Brown. And while the Eagles are saying all the right things regarding Brown’s future in Philly, odds as to his next team have emerged.
At DraftKings, the current favorites are the Eagles, at -130.
Next on the list is the Patriots, at +275. The Chargers land at +750, with the Bills at +900.
A return to the Titans is a +1000 bet. The Raiders are +1400, with the 49ers, Dolphins, and Ravens at +1600.
Eagles G.M. Howie Roseman made it clear that they’ll listen to any team that makes any offers about Brown or any other player. The question is whether another team will make the Eagles an offer they won’t refuse.
Former Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has found a new job.
49ers General Manager John Lynch said at a Tuesday press conference that Adofo-Mensah is joining the team as a personnel executive. The Vikings fired Adofo-Mensah in January after four seasons with the team.
This is Adofo-Mensah’s second time working for the 49ers. He was their manager of football research and development from 2013-2016 and the director of football research and development from 2017-2019. Adofo-Mensah worked under Lynch in the latter position.
Adofo-Mensah spent two years as the Browns’ vice president of football operations before landing the GM job in Minnesota.
