#Jets will exercise the fifth year option on defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson

Since entering the NFL, Sheldon Richardson has 16.5 sacks and the New York Jets need that. According to the New York Daily News, the New York Jets will exercise the fifth-year option on defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson’s rookie contract by the May 2 deadline before determining their next move with the 2013 first-round pick (13th overall).

Richardson’s fifth-year option will be for about $8 million in 2017 — the average salaries of the third to 25th highest-paid players at his position— per terms of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.

The Jets’ decision to pick up the option is a sound, low-risk move for a player that has been dominating offensive line’s since he entered the NFL in 2013.

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