Four years. Whew! Where does it go? I remember sitting in a desert bar drinking beer out of a goblet. The 2014 NFL Draft was on. The Texans selected Kevin Johnson. Cornerback. Wake Forest. I had no idea who he was, and now, four years later, nobody still really knows who he is.
All first round draft picks have a fifth year option for the team who selects him. At the conclusion of three seasons they can choose to decline it, allowing the player to be a free agent at the conclusion of this fourth season, or accept it, keeping the player in town for five years.