May 2nd is the deadline for exercising fifth-year options on 2021 first-round draftees. Should the Ravens exercise the option for either or both of Rashod Bateman and/or Odafe Oweh? An exercise of the option on Bateman would cost the Ravens $14.3 million for the 2025 season. For Oweh, the number is $13.3 million. These amounts would count dollar-for-dollar against the Ravens 2025 salary cap.
On the surface the decisions for each player may appear obvious. Neither has reached the expectations of a first round pick. Typically, you only want to exercise a fifth year option on a player who has “proven it.” Generally, a team should choose to exercise a fifth year option to allow it to structure a longer term deal with a player who has proven it. Conceptually, it’s as if the team is addressing a franchise tag type of situation one year earlier. Has either Bateman or Oweh “proven it?” Let’s take a closer look at each player to see what case if any can be made to exercise those options. Continue reading “Exercising Fifth Year Options on Bateman, Oweh, or Both?”