The Ravens are just one of the latest teams to pick up the 5th round option on one of their players and it is C.J. Mosley
At this time in the offseason, many NFL teams are deciding to pick up 5th year options on their first round picks from the 2014 draft. The deadline to use this option is on May 3rd. For the Baltimore Ravens, they had no hesitation in exercising the 5th year option on inside linebacker C.J. Mosley. General Manager confirmed that the team picked up the option last Wednesday.
Newsome confirmed that the Ravens picked up C.J. Mosley's fifth-year option on Wednesday.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) April 29, 2017
A wage scale for rookies that was adopted in 2011 requires all rookies to sign four year contracts. Teams have the option to exercise a 5th year option to their first round pick. According to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com, this is how it works:
"The fifth-year salary varies depending on how high the player was drafted. The top 10 selections receive a salary equal to the average of the 10 highest salaries at their position. For the remainder of the first round, the wage is the average of the third through 25th highest salaries at the position."
Since being drafted with the #17 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Mosley has been a staple for the Ravens defense. After losing Ray Lewis to retirement in 2012, there was an immediate hole to be filled. That is were Mosley came in.
Next: 2017 NFL Draft Aftermath: AFC North Report Cards
Hopefully here for a long time
The Alabama product has been the signal caller for the defense and has contributed since he stepped on the field his rookie season. It is unfair to compare him to Lewis, because the two are two completely different players. Mosley is not emotional and speech guy that Lewis was. But do not let that fool you, his play on the field is tremendous. In just three short seasons, he has racked up 342 tackles. Not to mention, he has developed into a great pass defender. Just last season he grabbed four interceptions. His play has also earned him two Pro Bowl selections. The Ravens loaded up on defense in the NFL Draft and making the effort to keep Mosley around is important going forward.