Executives around the NFL are still perplexed by the Panthers‘ sudden decision to part ways with Josh Norman this offseason, Mark Maske of The Washington Post writes.
“I can’t figure that one out,” a front office member of another NFL team said recently. “There has to be something else to that story. I don’t think you let a player of that caliber walk away for nothing in return for the reasons they’ve given.”
Norman, 28, enjoyed a career-year in 2015 as he was named to the All Pro first team and selected for his first Pro Bowl. In April, the Panthers pulled the franchise tag from Norman, saving themselves $13.952MM in cap room.
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- David Newton of ESPN.com says that fans shouldn’t be blindsided if the Panthers give Michael Oher a deserved contract extension. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) placed Oher as the 30th best tackle in the NFL last season. That’s a far cry from 2014, when PFF rated him as one of the worst tackles in the NFL. The 30-year-old, coming off a surprisingly successful first season in Carolina, has a $4.5MM 2016 cap charge in the second year of a two-year deal, and could be a candidate for a new deal. In February, Oher made a change in representation, hiring the outspoken Drew Rosenhaus.
- The Falcons overhauled their linebacker group this offseason through the use of two high draft picks, signing three free agents, and moving 2015 first-round choice Vic Beasley to linebacker. Now, the Falcons are experimenting with when and how to use their new-look linebacker core, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes.
- The Saints want to sign quarterback Drew Brees to a new contract, but it’s not going to be cheap. According to two league sources, Brees’ new deal could see in excess of $65MM in guarantees on a four-year contract worth between $95MM and $100MM in total.
- Before settling in on a five-year, $37MM contract with the Eagles, the Buccaneers reportedly reached out to safety Rodney McLeod with a similar offer.
Washington is going to regret the Norman contract sooner rather than later.