Official Fifth-Year Option Numbers Are In — Here’s What It Means for C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr.

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The NFL has officially set the fifth-year option values for the 2023 first-round draft class, and for the Houston Texans, the figures provide clarity on the future costs of retaining two franchise cornerstones: quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.

NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero shared the league memo detailing the salary tiers, confirming what Houston will likely face when option decisions come due next offseason. Teams must exercise fifth-year options on first-round picks by May 1 following the players’ third season.

Because the Texans traded significant draft capital to acquire both players in 2023, these decisions carry enormous roster-building implications.

How the Fifth-Year Option System Works

Under the current CBA, option salaries are determined by performance benchmarks rather than draft slot alone. The league uses four tiers:

1. Multiple Pro Bowls (original ballot) — Highest tier

2. One Pro Bowl (original ballot) — Second tier

3. Playing-time threshold met, no Pro Bowls — Third tier

4. No qualifying criteria — Lowest tier

   
   

Only Pro Bowl selections on the original roster count. Alternate appearances do not qualify.

C.J. Stroud: Alternate Selection Keeps Option Lower

Stroud has already earned Pro Bowl recognition early in his career, but as an alternate replacement rather than an original selection. Because of that distinction, his honor does not trigger the higher salary tiers.

Based on the official figures released, Stroud projects to fall into the playing-time category for quarterbacks:

• Projected fifth-year option: about $25.9 million

• If he had one official Pro Bowl: about $37.8 million

  
  

That roughly $12 million gap is massive — even for a franchise quarterback.

While Stroud’s long-term future will almost certainly involve a mega-extension well before Year 5 arrives, the lower option figure gives Houston flexibility during negotiations and roster construction.

Will Anderson Jr.: One Official Pro Bowl Sets His Tier

Anderson’s case is similar but lands one tier higher.

The Texans’ star pass rusher has been recognized twice as a Pro Bowler, but only one of those honors came as an original selection. The other was as an alternate replacement, which does not count toward the multi-Pro Bowl tier.

As a result, Anderson projects into the one-Pro-Bowl category for defensive ends:

• Projected fifth-year option: about $21.5 million

• If he had two official Pro Bowls: about $24.4 million

  
  

Again, the difference represents several million dollars in cap space — a meaningful amount for a team building around a young core.

Why Original Selection vs. Alternate Matters

The NFL distinguishes between official selections and replacements to prevent contract incentives from being influenced by late withdrawals or injury substitutions.

Only the players initially voted in by fans, players, and coaches count toward salary triggers like the fifth-year option tiers.

Even if an alternate ultimately participates in the game, the league does not treat that appearance as a qualifying Pro Bowl for contractual purposes.

When Pro Bowl “Snubs” Become Financial Advantages

In most discussions, missing out on the Pro Bowl is framed as disrespect or oversight.

From a front-office perspective, however, those near-misses can translate into real savings.

If Stroud or Anderson were viewed as deserving of higher honors but were not formally selected, Houston effectively secures elite production at a discounted rate for the option year.

Those savings can then be redirected toward extensions, free-agent additions, or maintaining depth around the roster — all critical during a championship window built around young stars.

The Bigger Picture for Houston

The Texans are unlikely to let either player reach the option year without exploring long-term deals. Franchise quarterbacks and premier edge rushers typically command extensions well before that point.

Still, the fifth-year option provides insurance and leverage. It guarantees team control through a player’s fifth season while establishing a clear salary baseline.

Thanks to the nuances of Pro Bowl selection rules, that baseline is significantly more favorable for Houston than it might have been.

In a league where every dollar matters, even the fine print of postseason honors can shape the future of a franchise.