Despite the team’s current focus on the NFL draft, they also had to think about whether or not to pick up the fifth-year options on three players who they had selected in the first round of the 2019 draft.
The Raiders had selected Clelin Ferrell (4th overall), Josh Jacobs (24 overall) and Johnathan Abram (27 overall) in that draft. Now is the time they had to decided whether they would accept the fifth-year option on their rookie contract or to make 2022 the final year on those deals.
In the end, they opted not to pick up their fifth round options.
The most accomplished of the three players was Josh Jacobs. But as running back is no longer deemed a premium position, the team had to decide whether he was worth the hefty price tag to pick up his fifth year.
Not picking up Clelin Ferrel’s fifth-year option was expected. As the 4th overall pick, his price tag was high and he has never come close to living up to that draft position. He will have this season to hope to play his best football and hit free agency next offseason.
Abram showed some flashes of playing his best football last season before he suffered his second season-ending shoulder injury. The first one cost him basically his entire rookie season.
