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Redskins Use 5th Year Option on Ryan Kerrigan

They Redskins have officially picked up Ryan Kerrigan's 5th Year option.

By Scott Jennings

Bruce Allen spoke at Brian Orakpo's charity golf game on Monday about picking up Ryan Kerrigan's 5th year option.  The team had until May 3rd to pick up the option, and they have officially exercised it today.  The Redskins now have Kerrigan under contract for the next two years.  They can negotiate a long term deal with him, or wait until next season to see what happens when Brian Orakpo hits free agency.

Kerrigan has started every game since being drafted 16th overall in the 2011 Draft.  He played through a meniscus tear in his knee last season that required offseason arthroscopic surgery this year.  He still finished the season with 66 tackles, 4 forced fumble, and 8.5 sacks

Redskins general manager Bruce Allen said earlier this week that although the team at that point was yet to formally decide on Kerrigan's fifth-year option, that, "Obviously we love Ryan."

"Ryan from his first day walking on the field has been an impactful player for us," Allen said. "I think his first two years he played 100 percent of the plays and last year about 98 percent. He’s been a great addition for us and is obviously a solid character."

Kerrigan on Monday said he'd be elated if the team picked up his fifth-year option.

"I really like it here, and I like the team and the area," he said.

The cost of the option year is dependent upon where a player was drafted and what position he plays. If the player was drafted in the top 10 picks of the draft his one year contract will equal the transition tender for the NFL in 2013. If the player is selected outside of the top 10 then his one year contract is calculated the same way that the transition tag is calculated except the 3rd through 25th highest salaries are used rather than the top 10 highest. All offensive linemen and all linebackers are each grouped as one position and are not specialized (i.e a tackle is paid same as a center or a inside linebacker is paid same as a 34 outside linebacker).

Once the option is exercised the salary is guaranteed for injury only. So if a player is injured in 2014 and unable to pass his physical the following season his entire option salary is protected. However the player can be released at any time up to the start of the 2015 League Year without penalty if he is healthy enough to play football. If the player is on the roster on the first day of the 2015 League Year (first day of free agency) the salary becomes fully guaranteed for all terminations.

Official Press Release:

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that they have exercised their fifth-year option on the contract of linebacker Ryan Kerrigan.

Kerrigan (6-4, 260) has started all 48 of Washington’s regular season games and one postseason game since he entered the NFL as the Redskins’ first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft. In three seasons, he has compiled 184 tackles (131 solo), 24.5 sacks, 15 passes defensed, 10 fumbles forced, two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns) and one fumble recovery.

Kerrigan, who earned his first career Pro Bowl selection following the 2012 season, is one of 13 NFL players to have recorded at least 7.5 sacks in each of the last three seasons. His 24.5 career sacks rank tied for 10th in franchise history.

Kerrigan, 25, played collegiately at Purdue from 2007-10, becoming the Boilermakers’ first unanimous All-American since 1980 following his senior season in 2010. He is a native of Muncie, Ind.

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