Fifth-year option projections for every first-round player in the 2018 draft class
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March 14, 2021, 8:00 AM·33 min read
After free agency, and just after the NFL draft closes up shop on May 1, there’s one more way teams can solidify their rosters: The decision to exercise the fifth-year option on first-round draft picks from four years before. The decisions have to be made before May 3, and if the team declines the option on the player, that player becomes a free agent a year earlier, unless a longer-term deal happens.
At this time, none of the first-rounders in the 2018 class have signed second contracts; that’s more likely to happen in the 2022 league year. Teams have those players on relatively cheap deals based on slotted contracts; even 2018 first-overall pick Baker Mayfield will make just $920,000 in base salary, and a $4,936,770 roster bonus. His prorated bonus of $5,462,360 will also count against the 2021 cap, so Mayfield represents a 2021 cap hit o
Joe Louis Clark, the real-life bullhorn-wielding New Jersey high school principal, portrayed by Morgan Freeman in the 1989 Warner Bros. classic movie “Lean on Me.” has died. He was 82.
Clark died on Tuesday, Dec. 29, after a long battle with an unspecified illness at his home in Gainesville, Florida, his family announced.
047165 03: High school principal Joe Clark of East Side High School poses for a set up in Paterson NJ, January 7, 1988. (Photo by Yvonne Hemsey/Liaison)
The Eastside High School principal rose to prominence for his no-nonsense style of leading. Upon taking over the Paterson, New Jersey school, Clark expelled 300 students for fighting, vandalism, abusing teachers and drug possession in one day. Meanwhile, he challenged the remaining students to perform better. His unorthodox methods won him both praise and critique nationwide. Former President Ronald Reagan even once offered Clark a White House policy advisor position; the educator, however, declined the
With only one game left to play, breakout might be the best way to describe Smith s year. Smith s rookie statistics were impressive: 121 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, five sacks. However, Smith s numbers are even more staggering this season: 136, 17, four.
Smith even has one game left to play: a season-defining matchup against the Green Bay Packers this Sunday.
Smith jump-started the Bears blowout 41-17 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a team-leading eight tackles and two crucial interceptions.
Smith is the first Bears linebacker to have a multi-interception game since Lance Briggs in 2008. He is one of 15 defenders and the only linebacker to have accomplished the feat this season.
George Connor (4). Patterson, who led NFC returners in fan votes, made the all-star team last season, his first with the Bears. He was a two-time Pro Bowl player with the Vikings. Patterson’s 104-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last month against the Vikings gave him eight in his career, putting him in a three-way tie for most all-time. On Monday, Bears coach
Matt Nagy called Patterson “day to day” with a knee injury suffered in the first half Sunday. The Bears limited him to kick-return duties in the second half. The running back/returner played only six offensive snaps.