Fifth-Year Option Amounts Set for Steelers Safties Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds

One of the many things the Steelers will need to address this offseason is the fifth-year options of safeties Terrell Edmunds and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Both players were drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, which means the Steelers have the option to secure their rights for a fifth season.

By rule, fifth-year options are non-negotiable, with the league setting the value of the contracts. On Wednesday, with the official release of the 2021 franchise and transition player amounts, the Steelers learned what the price tag will be for those extensions.

Because Fitzpatrick has been to multiple Pro Bowls on his rookie contract, his 2022 fifth-year option will carry the same weight as a franchise tag at his position, which amounts to $10.812 million, the NFL announced on Wednesday.

Based on his playing time, Edmunds’ option salary will be calculated based on the average of the third to 20th highest-paid players at the safety position, which will be $6.753 million.

If the Steelers decided to exercise either of those options, they will become fully guaranteed, along with any non-guaranteed portions of the players’ 2021 salary. The fifth-year options must be picked up by the first week of May.