49ers, Bears, Bucs, Steelers, Rams & Dolphins Among Teams Interested In Josh Norman

April 20, 2016

Update:

Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports the 49ers, Buccaneers, Steelers and Dolphins are among the “8-9 teams” that have contacted free agent CB Josh Norman since the Panthers announced they’ve rescinded the franchise tag from him.

Jason Cole reports that Norman has already received offers from teams, but it’s still hard to gauge his market right now. According to Cole, Norman should be under contract before the start of the draft.
Cole also adds that Bears and Rams are among at least eight teams to have expressed interest in Norman up to this point.

Here’s the available cap space for these four teams: 49ers ($52.6M), Dolphins($19.54M), Buccaneers($14.52M), and Steelers ($3.45M).

Other speculative options including: the Jaguars and Titans.

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Ian Rapoport reports that NFL teams have already reached out to CB Josh Norman to either try to sign him to a contract or bring him in for a visit.

Rapoport adds that things could move quickly in regards Norman finding a new team.
According to David Newton, six to seven teams have already have inquired about Norman.

Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports that the Panthers gave Norman’s agent the ability to seek a trade with another team at his request.

However, a deal with another never surfaced and the Panthers elected to rescind the franchise tag, instead of dealing with an impending holdout this summer

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Following the news that the Panthers rescinded the franchise tag offer to CB Josh Norman, making him an unrestricted free agent, Ian Rapoport mentions that the Rams, Bears, 49ers and Titans were all in the market for cornerback help during free agency, and all still have cap space to work with.

Jason Cole adds the Jaguars to the list of teams who could be an option for Norman.
Adam Schefter also reports that playing in California appeals to Norman and the 49ers have the cap room to sign him.
Armando Salguero reached out to Dolphins’ sources who said of Norman: “Can’t say yes for sure. But it would be wrong to say no.“

According to Jeff Darlington, the Panthers didn’t think the looming distraction of an inevitable holdout from Norman was worth the one-year, $14 million deal they would have to pay him under the franchise tag.

Beyond that, reports have said that contract talks between Norman and the Panthers weren’t going well and it was unlikely that they would reach an agreement before the July deadline.

Reports said that Norman could sign for as much as $15-$16 million per year on the open market, so it will be interesting to see what kind of money he’s able to secure from another team.

We just updated each team’s available cap space as of today in case you’re wondering if a certain team could afford him right now.

Norman, 28, is a former fifth-round pick of the Panthers back in 2012. After playing out the final year of his four-year, $2,299,000 rookie contract, Carolina elect to use their franchise tag on him over a month ago.

In 2015, Norman appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers and recorded 56 tackles, four interceptions with two being returned for touchdowns, three forced fumbles, two recoveries, and 18 pass defenses for the Panthers. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 6 cornerback out of 118 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding where Norman could end up as the news is available.