Prior to the 2021 NFL draft, it was reported the Pittsburgh Steelers picked up the fifth-year option on safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. By doing so, Fitzpatrick‘s $2,722,878 base salary in 2021 along with his $10.612 million fifth-year option for 2020 to become fully guaranteed. Although he was not a draft selection by the Steelers in 2018, by trading for Fitzpatrick the Steelers held the rights to the option.
Interestingly enough, the fifth-year option for Terrell Edmunds was not reported prior to the draft. On Monday, mere hours before the deadline, it was reported the Steelers would not be exercising the option on Edmunds.