Josh Norman has two years remaining on his five-year deal that is worth $75 million with the Redskins. This season the veteran cornerback will carry a $14.5 million cap hit. A steep price for a team with little cap space available.
While solid, Norman hasn’t been quite the dynamic player he once was with the Carolina Panthers that garnered him the huge contract with the Redskins. In fact, there has been speculation heading into the off-season that Norman could be a cap casualty, given the fact Washington could save an estimated $8.5 million against the cap.
One former Redskins cornerback, Fred Smoot, believes the team should go ahead and move on from Norman. While appearing on “Redskins Talk” podcast via NBC Sports Washington, Smoot compared Norman to a “used car.”
“You have to ask yourself, ‘Where am I expendable?’ I’m going to look at that big cap number that Josh Norman has and that’s going to make me want to release him.”
“You wouldn’t go to a used car lot and try to pay new car prices, would you? At the end of the day, for what we pay for this guy, we’re not getting that return on that investment. I’m sorry, we paid too much for the car, it’s time we trade it back in.”
Not many will dispute Smoot’s claims. Norman was once viewed as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Last season, he was rated 50th among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus. He went through a streak of 21 games without an interception before collecting three last season.
Even head coach Jay Gruden challenged that he is looking for more from Norman in the upcoming season.
Smoot believes Quinton Dunbar was the top cornerback for Washington when he was healthy. He also raved about the Redskins drafting Jimmy Moreland of James Madison in the seventh-round of last month’s NFL Draft.
Also, the Redskins do have Fabian Moreau, Greg Stroman, and Adonis Alexander entering camp as well as the veteran Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who unretired to join the team.
Yes, it’s debatable that Norman hasn’t lived up to his contract, however, cutting him now may serve no benefits for the Redskins. The market for cornerback and most positions of need are dried up at this junction of free agency. The extra $8.5 million serves no purpose.
Despite having to redo their quarterback and wide receiver positions, the Redskins could be sleeper team to compete for the NFC East in 2019. They’ll need Norman to do so. Plus, Gruden presumably could be coaching for his job and turning younger at cornerback seems not trusting.
As long as Norman’s play doesn’t stick out for the better, the debate will exist on whether the Redskins are better without him. All eyes will be on Norman for the upcoming season to satisfy the masses and prove he is worth the money.
