By Jordan Long
NFL free agency opens next Wednesday. The Buffalo Bills have already taken one of the top cornerbacks off the market, Josh Norman. Norman agreed to a 1-year $6 million contract but it could be worth $8 million with incentives.
Norman is an 8-year veteran at the cornerback position. His numbers dipped a bit last season, playing for the Washington Redskins. Norman totaled 6 passes defended, his lowest total since 2013 when he was with Carolina. That season he had zero but only appeared in 7 games. Norman managed 1 interception.
Washington was not a fit for Norman. With his poor play, it was time for the Redskins to let him go. They cut him on February 14th. He still had 1 more year left on his deal. Letting Norman go saved Washington about $12.5 million in salary cap space, opening more room to sign free agents.
The Bills had a need at cornerback. They have a starter in Tre’Davious White. White is the Bills’ top cornerback on the depth chart. White didn’t allow many receivers to catch the ball on his side of the field last year, forcing the quarterbacks to throw to the opposite side of him. When they threw towards White those were batted away with 17 passes defended and 6 interceptions. White is under contract for two more seasons.
The Bills other two starters from last season are free agents, Levi Wallace and Kevin Johnson. Wallace is expected to be back. The Bills knew they needed to add depth to the position and Norman is a fit. Norman knows the NFL game.
The move gives the Bills a veteran cornerback who knows the Bills’ defensive system. Their Head Coach, Sean McDermott, served as the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2017. Norman played under McDermott when he was with the Panthers which lasted from 2012 to 2015. Norman enjoyed his best year in 2015 in McDermott’s system with 18 passes defended and a career-high 4 interceptions.
Norman knows he has work to do. He needs to prove to the Bills he can still play the NFL game at a high level. This was a fairly low-cost, high-reward move for the Bills. The worst case is Norman is beaten by receivers in regular season games. If that happens, the Bills don’t have a long-term agreement with Norman and Norman will be looking for a new home in 2021.
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