I don't know the standard operating procedure with using the 5th year option on 1st round draft picks but it seems to be the prudent thing to do would be to talk to the agent and inform them of the intention of the team to exercise that option.
They could have done that but that would make this holdout really stress the relationship and maybe if they'd discussed this and known their intention, they might not have that option, which amounts to a one year contract, effectively allowing them to tag him twice and have three one year contracts in a row and he is guaranteed only that one current year. Including this year, Elliott would make about 36M over the next 4 years, if tagged and not injured.
Gurley on this latest contract is guaranteed 45M. See the math problem that Elliott sees?
The RB tag for this season is 11.2M, so he is already 2M in the hole with this option exercised and that would be going up next season.
Elliott has been injury free but he is a contact back and leads the NFL in carries per game over the last three years and he and his agent would see no reason for a decline in that this season. He is the definition of workhorse back.
I do see a lot of venom aimed in Elliott's direction but when I put myself in his place, I believe I would be doing the same thing he is, his only play is to hold out.
They exercise his option but then the COO goes on the radio and starts talking about a new contract, does that make sense? Sure there was a deadline but that's no excuse, they had time. Then he makes it worse by bringing up the Gurley contract, THE player the Elliott sees as his challenger to best in the NFL.
When you add the numbers being thrown around for the QB, that same QB that's not supposed to be very good without the RB and the WR that's been with the team for 10 games, can you not see where this could get you sideways if you were him?
I could be off base here and they did address the option before exercising it but I don't think that happened or they would not have been acting so blindsided. Those numbers above are exactly what Elliott is looking at and he and his agent are sending the message before most players do, Elliott is not a taggable player.