Packers to pick up fifth-year option on safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers had never picked up the fifth-year option on a first-round draft pick since the system went into place under the collective bargaining agreement of 2011. But they had never had a first-round pick who had done as much as safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

The Packers will pick up his option, a source told ESPN.com on Monday, which means Clinton-Dix will now be under contract through the 2018 season. His salary for the option year is expected to be $5.9 million. He will make $1.557 million this season in salary and roster bonuses combined.

The 21st overall pick in the 2014 draft, Clinton-Dix made his first Pro Bowl last season, when he posted a career-high five interceptions -- tied with the Giants' Landon Collins for most interceptions by a safety in the 2016 season. He became the first Packers safety to make the Pro Bowl since Nick Collins in 2010.

Clinton-Dix not only has played in every game of his NFL career, buthas played in every snap last season -- all 1,236 of them including the playoffs.

The deadline to pick up the fifth-year option on 2014 first-round picks was Tuesday. The fifth year is guaranteed for injury at the time option is exercised. The option year becomes fully guaranteed on the first day of the league year in the fifth contract year, which will be next March.

Players selected outside the top 10 in the first round will be paid an average of the third-to-25th-highest-paid players at their position in the fifth year if the option is exercised. If the Packers didn't pick up Clinton-Dix's option, he would be a free agent next March.

Previously, the Packers declined their options on tackle Derek Sherrod (2011 first-round pick), outside linebacker Nick Perry (2012) and outside linebacker Datone Jones (2013). Only Perry remains with the Packers.