NFL Rumors: 49ers, Bears, Jaguars Allow Top Draft Picks To Become Free Agents After 2020

The Cleveland Browns have exercised the fifth-year option on defensive end Myles Garrett, who was the No.1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Garrett is now under contract with Cleveland through the 2021 season, making him an outlier from the draft three years ago.

Four of the teams that had top-five draft picks in 2017 have reportedly declined the fifth-year options on their first-rounders.

2017 draft class fifth-year options for top 5 picks:
1. Browns DE Myles Garrett: ✅
2. Bears QB Mitch Trubisky: ❌
3. 49ers DL Solomon Thomas: ❌
4. Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette: ❌
5. Titans WR Corey Davis: ❌

It’s hard to find a sure thing in the draft.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 2, 2020

Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (No.2 pick) is set to become a free agent after the 2020 season. The same goes for San Francisco 49ers defensive end Solomon Thomas (No.3 pick), Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (No.4 pick) and Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (No.5 pick).

Trubisky took a step back in his third season with the Bears, throwing for 3,138 yards, 17 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and an 83.0 passer rating. Chicago traded a fourth-round pick for Nick Foles in March, and the veteran is favored to be under center for the Bears in Week 1.

Thomas wasn’t an impact player during San Francisco’s run to the Super Bowl last season. He’s totaled six sacks in three seasons.

Jacksonville reportedly has tried to trade Fournette during the offseason. He set a career-high with 1,152 rushing yards in 2019. Fournette has 4.0 yards per carry since entering the league with no Pro Bowl selections.

During Tennessee’s run to the 2020 AFC Championship Game, Davis was second on the Titans with 601 receiving yards. He’s averaging 44.5 yards per game since 2017.

The Cincinnati Bengals have reportedly declined the fifth-year option for receiver John Ross (No.9 pick). Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick (No.13 pick) is also headed for free agency following next season.

Final tally for the 2017 first-round draft picks fifth-year options:
▪️Picked up: 17
▪️Declined: 13
▪️Extended: 1 (Christian McCaffrey)
▪️Released: 1 (Taco Charlton)
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 4, 2020

Thirteen first-round picks from the 2017 draft had their fifth-year options declined. Defensive end Taco Charlton (No.28 pick) was released by the Dallas Cowboys in September.

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is the only 2017 first-round pick that has signed a contract extension beyond the 2021 season. McCaffrey inked a four-year, $64 million deal in April.