There will be no fifth-year option on a 2026 pick, but the 49ers haven’t used it much in the past

TL;DR

The San Francisco 49ers will not have a fifth-year option for their 2026 draft pick due to trading out of the first round. Historically, the team has rarely utilized this option, exercising it only once since 2017.

Key points

49ers traded out of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft
No fifth-year option available for 2026 pick
Only one fifth-year option exercised since 2017

Mentioned in this story

Pittsburgh

San Francisco 49ers

Fans begin to file into the standing room section of the NFL Draft Theater ahead of Night 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft outside Acrisure Stadium, Friday, April 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa. | Ethan Morrison / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The San Francisco 49ers’ trading out of the first round on Thursday means they would not have a first-round selection. Starting with their second round selection of De’Zhaun Stribling, the 49ers will not have any players to exercise a fifth-year option. Something exclusive to first-round picks. If this is a criticism of something lost or a crucial element, relax. The 49ers didn’t use that thing much anyway. The fifth-year option is for first-round picks only. It’s a fully guaranteed contract that must be exercised after a first-round rookie plays three full seasons in the NFL. The 49ers have the following first-round picks eligible for the fifth-year option since the Kyle Shanahan/John Lynch regime took over in 2017. Note, 2022 first round picks-onwards have been omitted:

Solomon Thomas

Q&A

Why won't the 49ers have a fifth-year option for their 2026 draft pick?

The 49ers traded out of the first round, meaning they do not have any first-round selections eligible for the fifth-year option.

How many fifth-year options have the 49ers exercised since 2017?

The 49ers have exercised the fifth-year option only once since 2017, specifically for Mike McGlinchey.

What happens if the 49ers don't exercise the fifth-year option?

If the fifth-year option is not exercised, players may negotiate long-term contracts or play out their existing contracts without the guarantee of an additional year.