Carolina Panthers: Rescind Josh Norman Franchise Tender
The Carolina Panthers have blinsided the NFL by removing their franchise tender from cornerback Josh Norman.
The Carolina Panthers reversed course on cornerback Josh Norman today, taking back their franchise tender and making the Pro Bowler a free agent instead. It was a surprising move motivated by what general manager Dave Gettleman described as impossible terms offered by Norman for a long term deal.
The first benefit to the Panthers is that they now have thirteen million dollars in cap room freed up to do other things. Those other things are signing defensive linemen Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei to long term deals. The Panthers’ defensive formula has always been about building from the front four out rather than overpaying for secondary talent.
So Norman’s disadvantage was doing something great where the Panthers only need someone to do well. Now he knows it.
The Panthers have put Norman in a bind now. He is a free agent but all the money is out of the room. The teams with cap room would be San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and Jacksonville Jaguars. None of those are sure winners at this point.
Otherwise, Norman could sign a one year deal with a team that is going to contend on the relative cheap. It would delay his big payday for a year, but he might get the opportunity to showcase himself one more time. Perhaps a team like Dallas would be interested in him at relative low cost.
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The thing that can pretty much be guaranteed is that Norman will not be back with the Panthers next year. For the Panthers to maneuvered Norman into that situation is too cute by half. Norman is an emotional guy and he will refuse to come back to the team. He may also try to land on a team that plays the Panthers.
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Contenders who play the Panthers next year include the Chiefs and the Vikings for starters.
This opens up the first round pick question as well. The Panthers must surely be looking at cornerback in next week’s draft, right? You know, the thing I have said they wouldn’t do.
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This move also suggests that Gettleman has a plan to resolve the cornerback problem that is not some form of ‘Charles Tillman gets a bionic leg.’ That plan might be in the draft, and maybe it means the Panthers are ready to make a draft day move and are just holding their cards right now.