By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Bills have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with cornerback Josh Norman, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Per the report, the Bills flexed their salary cap muscle a bit on the deal, giving Norman a base salary of $6 million. Incentives can raise the total value to $8 million. In the past and at cornerback specifically, the Bills have signed free agents such as Vontae Davis and Kevin Johnson. However, those two inked deals worth up to only $5 and $3 million per season, respectively.
Norman previously played under Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott while with the Carolina Panthers, earning an All-Pro nod during that time.
At the recent NFL Scouting Combine, Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed that there was interest in adding Norman.
“We’re very familiar with Josh. We had some great years with him, I remember the day we drafted him,” Beane said on Tuesday. “Yeah, he is out there on the free agent market, we have looked into him and even talked to him.”
The 32-year-old was released by the Redskins in February. The Bills previously have signed players before the free agency period has opened, including Vontae Davis and Duke Williams, who also were already able to sign early.
But Norman, who earned that All-Pro selection in 2015 while playing in McDermott’s defense, hasn’t been very highly looked upon in recent seasons. Just this past season alone, he ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 111th-best cornerback in the NFL. Levi Wallace was 44th while Kevin Johnson was at No. 23. It hasn’t been just this season, either. Per PFF, in his first six seasons, Norman allowed 13 touchdowns. This past season, he’s allowed seven and over the past two, 16 total.