It appears that Super Bowl 50 was Josh Norman’s final time playing in a Carolina Panther uniform.
In a move that shocked the NFL world, the team rescinded the All-Pro cornerback’s non-exclusive franchise tag status Wednesday, making him an unrestricted free agent.
“After a number of conversations with Josh’s agent we realized that a long-term deal was not attainable,” general manager Dave Gettleman said in a statement. “We have decided to rescind the franchise tag freeing Josh to immediately become a UFA. We thank Josh for all his contributions and truly wish him well.”
Today, Josh Norman cashed in on the long-term deal that he was looking for. The defensive back signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Washington Redskins. This is according to NFL Network media insider Ian Rapoport and other sources. The deal contains $50 million in guaranteed money.
Josh Norman has signed a 5-year contract with the #Redskins worth $75M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 22, 2016
Josh Norman Agrees to 5-Year Deal with Redskins
The Panthers placed the franchise tag on Norman before the start of free agency. He started all 16 games in 2015 and quickly became one of the premier corners in the league. He concluded the season with 48 tackles and career highs in passes defensed (18), interceptions (4) and forced fumbles (3). His presence was an integral part of Carolina’s historic 15-1 campaign that finished with a Super Bowl appearance against the Denver Broncos.
Bursting onto the national scene as a late bloomer, the 28-year-old picked the perfect time to achieve personal bests. In his rookie year of 2012, Norman started 12 games and finished with 73 tackles, one interception and seven passes defensed. Playing in only seven games in 2013 and being inactive for another five, he fell further down the depth chart. Starting 10 games in 2014, Norman silently played as one of the game’s top shutdown players; his 46.6 percent catch rate was second-best among cornerbacks behind the Indianapolis Colts’ Vontae Davis. This season, analytics site Pro Football Focus ranked Norman as the 11th-best cornerback in the league, thanks to his 87.8 coverage rating and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. He definitely proved to be more than the controversial scrapper who fought with franchise quarterback Cam Newton during training camp. His NFL tenure may not be as decorated as Richard Sherman, but his meteoric ascent is quite similar to the Seattle Seahawks cornerback.
Growing up not too far from Charlotte in Greenwood, South Carolina, Norman was a decorated two-way player at Greenwood High School. Named an All-State player in 2006, he was selected to play in the North-South All-Star game. Despite also participating in baseball, basketball and track during his prep days, Norman didn’t receive any scholarships from Division I programs. In 2008, he ultimately walked on to Coastal Carolina. Norman developed into a first-team FCS All-American in 2011 after making the third-team in 2009. After tying for the second-most career interceptions in school history (11), Norman was selected in the fifth round (143rd overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft.
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