Coming off one of their most productive seasons as of late which included a trip to the playoffs, the Buffalo Bills look to continue expanding on their recent success. Buffalo already has a very impressive mix of young talent on both sides of the ball, and have now reportedly added an All-Pro veteran to their defensive backfield in cornerback Josh Norman.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Norman and the Bills have agreed to a one-year contract. The deal’s base value is $6 million but can reportedly be boosted up to $8 million with incentives. Norman was waived three weeks ago after playing the last four seasons of his career with the Washington Redskins.
Sources: #Bills have agreed to terms with CB Josh Norman to a one-year deal worth $6 million base value with incentives that can get him to $8 million. Norman reunites with Sean McDermott, his defensive coordinator all four seasons with the #Panthers.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 9, 2020
Heading to play with a stout Buffalo defense will be an extreme change of scenery to what Josh Norman had become accustomed to over the past few seasons. Norman was relied on as the best DB on the Redskins year in and year out the past four seasons, but will now only be a complementary piece with the Bills.
In Buffalo, Norman will get to play alongside arguably the NFL’s best corner in Tre’Davious White, something Garafolo cited as a selling point for Norman to join the Bills. The Bills also feature a solid front seven including the likes of linebacker Tremaine Edmunds along with linemen Ed Oliver and Jerry Hughes.
Not only is the personnel a vast upgrade from Washington, but so is the coaching situation. Norman will reunite with Sean McDermott, his defensive coordinator during the most productive seasons of his career with the Carolina Panthers. McDermott has stayed true to his zone-heavy defensive scheme and it’s worked wonders in Buffalo.
Now with top-tier talent around him and a system he’s familiar with, Josh Norman could provide a jolt to the Buffalo Bills after becoming a liability in his past couple years with Washington. Expect the Bills to once again be one of the AFC’s more dangerous teams if QB Josh Allen and their offense continues to make strides next season.
