It didn’t take long for veteran cornerback Josh Norman to find a new team after being released by Washington Redskins last week. According to ESPN’s sources, Norman agreed to a deal with Buffalo Bills.
Norman reportedly inked a one-year deal with the Bills that will pay him $6 million in 2020. The total value could go up to $8 million if various incentives are met.
Bills emerged as early favorites to sign Norman due to his ties with the team’s head coach Sean McDermott. The pair previously worked together with Carolina Panthers, where McDermott served as a defensive coordinator under Ron Rivera.
Norman is expected to be the Bills’ second starting corner alongside Pro Bowler Tre’Davious White, although his starting spot still isn’t locked up. His role will probably depend on whether Buffalo will bring back second-year CB Levi Wallace, who started all 16 games in 2019.
Despite being the highest-paid corner in the game in the last four seasons, Josh Norman failed to be a difference-maker that Redskins signed him to be in 2016. Norman put up average numbers over the past four seasons, which caused his playing time to diminish in the past four years. He only started eight games in 2019, contributing with 40 tackles, one interception, and 1.0 sacks.
Norman carried a $12.5 million cap hit next season, so the decision to cut him was understandable from Washington’s point of view. Buffalo, on the other hand, got a veteran that they hope could benefit from a change of scenery and once again be a respected corner in the league.
