Correction: Falcons will hold off exercising fifth-year options until Terry Fontenot speaks with Calvin Ridley and Hayden Hurst

hurst hayden 2020

Contradicting an earlier report from D. Orlando Ledbetter, Kesley Conway reported from a media session today that Terry Fontenot would like to talk to Calvin Ridley and Hayden Hurst before announcing if the Falcons will be picking up each player’s fifth-year option.

Teams have until May 3rd to exercise their 2018 first-round picks’ fifth-year options, but these fifth-year options impact the 2022 salary cap. If Atlanta were to exercise each of the players’ final year of their rookie contract, Ridley would cost $11,116,000, and Hurst would cost $5,428,000 against next year’s cap.

The NFL uses its own formula in determining the price of these fifth-year options based on snaps and accolades. Ridley is of the ‘playtime’ designation, and if he had made the Pro Bowl last season, which he made Second-Team All-Pro in, his fifth-year option would’ve been $14,340,000 in 2022. Hurst only warranted the ‘basic’ designation due to his limited role in Baltimore but would’ve made $6,021,000 if he had met the same benchmarks as Ridley.

Playtime: These players will be eligible for a fifth year base salary calculated from the average of the 3rd to 20th highest salaries at their position over the past five seasons, provided that their snap counts over their first three seasons meet one of the following three criteria:

  • 75% or greater in two of their first three seasons
  • an average of 75% or greater over all three seasons
  • 50% or greater over all three seasons

Basic: Players who do not meet any of the requirements below will be eligible for a fifth year base salary calculated from the average of the 3rd to 25th highest salaries at their position over the past five seasons.

 

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