The 2021 NFL draft class brought a strong crop of talented first-round selections to the league, and key decisions on their futures are looming.

Thursday marks the deadline to exercise the fifth-year option on the rookie contracts of players picked in the first round of the 2021 draft.

While some decisions were no-brainers for players like Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase, other decisions required much more consideration and went all the way up to Thursday's deadline.

Here's a look at the list of players from the 2021 draft class who had their options exercised or declined, courtesy of NFL.com, followed by some analysis.

Option Exercised

• Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence
• Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts
• Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase
• Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle
• Detroit Lions OT Penei Sewell
• Carolina Panthers CB Jaycee Horn
• Denver Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II
• Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith
• Dallas Cowboys DE Micah Parsons
• Los Angeles Chargers OT Rashawn Slater
• New York Jets G Alijah Vera-Tucker
• Miami Dolphins LB Jaelan Phillips
• Minnesota Vikings OT Christian Darrisaw
• Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne
• Cleveland Browns CB Greg Newsome II
• Buffalo Bills DE Gregory Rousseau
• Baltimore Ravens LB Odafe Oweh
• Indianapolis Colts DE Kwity Paye 

Option Declined

• Denver Broncos QB Zach Wilson
• Dallas Cowboys QB Trey Lance
• Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields
• Jacksonville Jaguars QB Mac Jones
• Arizona Cardinals LB Zaven Collins
• Washington Commanders LB Jamin Davis
• Tennessee Titans CB Caleb Farley (via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
• Green Bay Packers CB Eric Stokes (via NFL Network's Mike Garafolo)
• Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris (via NFL insider Jordan Schultz)
• Kansas City Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney (via ESPN's Adam Teicher)
• New Orleans Saints DE Payton Turner (via ESPN's Katherine Terrell)

Other Circumstances

• Las Vegas Raiders OT Alex Leatherwood (cut in 2022, ineligible for fifth-year option)
• Baltimore Ravens WR Rashod Bateman (signed to two-year contract extension)

Analysis

The most glaring thing about this year's list of fifth-year option decisions is the lack of success for what was thought to be a generational class of quarterbacks.

Besides Lawrence, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft, none of the other four first-round quarterbacks had their options picked up. In fact, each one of those quarterbacks was traded away from the original teams that drafted them.

The San Francisco 49ers cut ties with 2021 No. 3 pick Trey Lance a year ago by shipping him to the Dallas Cowboys, where he's the third-string quarterback. The rest of the group changed teams this offseason, starting with the New England Patriots shipping No. 15 pick Mac Jones to the Jaguars to be Lawrence's backup.

Justin Fields was next to find a new home, as the Chicago Bears shipped the former No. 11 pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers to clear the way for 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. Finally, the New York Jets unceremoniously dealt 2021 No. 2 pick Zach Wilson to the Denver Broncos.

While the 2021 class will go down as a cautionary tale against drafting quarterbacks, there were many other success stories that have teams in great shape for the future.

Chase headlines one of the best groups of wide receivers in recent years. The Bengals are likely working on signing him to a massive contract extension, but the fifth-year option gives them some security and extra time to get a deal done. The same goes for Miami Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle.

DeVonta Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles had his option picked up as part of his three-year, $75 million contract extension. The Baltimore Ravens chose to reward Rashod Bateman with a two-year extension in place of the fifth-year option.

On the defensive side of the ball, the 2021 class produced a pair of gems in Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Dallas Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons. Both of them have earned All-Pro selections in their respective careers, so it was an easy decision for Denver and Dallas to lock them up for the 2025 season.

The players that had their options declined will have the opportunity to test the open market when they become free agents next offseason.