49ers exercise 5th-year contract option for Aldon Smith

That’s because Smith has multiple off-the-field issues to deal with over the past year. He had a DUI last year and has a hearing scheduled for May 12 in Santa Clara Superior Court for the misdemeanor charge, as well as three felony possession of illegal assault rifle charges the same day.

Those issues were known about for some time. Last season, Smith missed considerable time during the regular season due to a stint in rehab, mandated by the 49ers organization. Smith received no punishment from the NFL for the DUI and possession charges due to San Francisco taking the initiative on the rehab. Where things get even more complicated is the fact that Smith was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on April 13.

The incident at LAX may have involved alcohol, and Smith allegedly made a false report of a bomb threat. Smith had a pre-trial hearing on April 29 that was expected to potentially clear up some things, but no clarity was given which likely made the decision even more difficult. The attorney’s office in Los Angeles is reportedly considering a misdemeanor charge for Smith due to the incident.

In other words, there’s just a lot going on right now for Smith. At this point, it seems likely the league or the 49ers take action to cut his playing time next season. But as David Fucillo of Niners Nation notes, the 49ers making this move doesn’t mean they’re overlooking anything:

The team’s decision to exercise the option does not mean they are overlooking these incidents, or are not concerned about future transgressions. In exercising the option, I think the 49ers believe Aldon can turn his life around and become a positive off-the-field person, while remaining a dominating force on the field. However, the 49ers can still elect to release Smith if he finds future trouble.

The option will pay Smith $9.754 million in 2015 and is fully guaranteed against injury. It will become fully guaranteed in general on the first day of the 2015 league year. He would be an unrestricted free agent after the 2015 season, and his 2014 salary remains the same, with just over $2.3 million in base going to him and a cap hit of about $4.6 million.

San Francisco can still release Smith prior to the 2015 league year starting if things don’t go their way. If Smith gets into more trouble, faces steep legal penalties or all of this begins to affect him on the field, then releasing him would be a simple matter. This could be an opportunity, however, for the 49ers to get Smith signed to a long-term extension.

Doing so would do away with the fifth year, though any extension would likely be at a decreased rate, with a lot of language regarding off-the-field conduct with performance-based incentives. Smith has been incredibly productive in three seasons, putting up 110 tackles with 42 sacks and five forced fumbles. He’s the best pass-rusher on the team which is exactly why this move was made.

While the fifth-year option carries some risk, Smith is too good a player to let go when things could still go his way in the courts. It seems incredibly likely he misses some time in 2014, but the 49ers has been very supportive of him throughout this process and obviously believe they can help him turn things around.

Here’s a list of the 2011 first-round picks and where they stand in regards to their fifth-year options:

*Player no longer on original team and ineligible for fifth-year option.