Hawknballs":102fx1t5 said:
I doubt we would have traded out if the first, the 5th year option is so appealing especially for a lineman.
It's actually not.
OL gets grouped together, so using the 5th year option would pay him like a LT even though he most likely won't play LT.
Every team has a franchise tag, but how often do they use it? Rarely, because it is almost always a bad deal for the team.
How many 5th year options are getting picked up by teams? Not many because the financials don't work out.
If a player is really good then teams probably want him MORE than just one extra year, and the player would prefer a longterm deal for security. Teams don't want to overpay with the franchise tag or the 5th year option, so the 5th year option only makes sense when:
1. The 5th year price tag is a bargain (basically impossible for an OL who doesnt play LT)
2. The team only "needs" him for 1 more year and can move on to someone else.