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Josh Norman will sign with Washington Redskins
All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman and the Washington Redskins have agreed to a five-year deal that could be worth as much as $75 million, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Friday.
The contract will include a guaranteed $50 million, according to the NFL Network, the most ever paid to a cornerback.
Norman's agent, Michael George, confirmed the deal with The Associated Press without providing parameters of the signing.
Two days after the Carolina Panthers rescinded the franchise tag on Norman to make him a free agent, he had narrowed his choice to the Redskins or New Orleans Saints, sources earlier told Schefter.
The Saints had approached Drew Brees about restructuring his contract Friday but didn't need to do it when they were unable to land Norman, a source said.
Norman had visited the Redskins earlier Friday.
Washington was in need a cornerback but would have to free up more cap room to sign Norman. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, they have only $11.4 million available.
Norman had a career-high four interceptions, 16 passes defensed and 56 tackles last season for the NFC champion Panthers.
On Thursday, Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman said the Panthers chose to rescind Norman's tag because of the flexibility the team would have without Norman counting toward its salary-cap number; the team was unlikely to reach a long-term deal with him.
The Panthers had placed the tag on Norman last month, guaranteeing him $13.952 million in 2016. But Norman never signed it and was planning to skip at least the first part of offseason workouts that begin on Monday.
According to a league source, Norman was seeking a long-term deal worth between $15 million and $16 million a year with Carolina, an estimate based on what could be had on the open market. The Panthers made one offer for close to $11 million and never moved off that mark, according to the source.
The contract will include a guaranteed $50 million, according to the NFL Network, the most ever paid to a cornerback.
Norman's agent, Michael George, confirmed the deal with The Associated Press without providing parameters of the signing.
Two days after the Carolina Panthers rescinded the franchise tag on Norman to make him a free agent, he had narrowed his choice to the Redskins or New Orleans Saints, sources earlier told Schefter.
The Saints had approached Drew Brees about restructuring his contract Friday but didn't need to do it when they were unable to land Norman, a source said.
Norman had visited the Redskins earlier Friday.
Washington was in need a cornerback but would have to free up more cap room to sign Norman. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, they have only $11.4 million available.
Norman had a career-high four interceptions, 16 passes defensed and 56 tackles last season for the NFC champion Panthers.
On Thursday, Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman said the Panthers chose to rescind Norman's tag because of the flexibility the team would have without Norman counting toward its salary-cap number; the team was unlikely to reach a long-term deal with him.
The Panthers had placed the tag on Norman last month, guaranteeing him $13.952 million in 2016. But Norman never signed it and was planning to skip at least the first part of offseason workouts that begin on Monday.
According to a league source, Norman was seeking a long-term deal worth between $15 million and $16 million a year with Carolina, an estimate based on what could be had on the open market. The Panthers made one offer for close to $11 million and never moved off that mark, according to the source.