Josh Norman Contract: Latest News, Rumors on Negotiations With Panthers

Josh Norman will remain with the Carolina Panthers for the 2016 season. The only question is whether the two parties can agree to a long-term extension before the year begins.

Continue for updates.

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Norman Reportedly Unhappy with Franchise Tag

Thursday, March 31 

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported Norman is upset with the franchise tag process: 

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Norman's Contract Demands Surface

Monday, March 28

Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported Sunday that Norman is "looking for a deal in the neighborhood of $16 million a year." Person added, "If he doesn’t sign the tag by Week 10, he’ll miss the entire season and won’t have made a dime from the Panthers."

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole supported Person's report Monday:

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Gettleman Comments on Norman Talks

Tuesday, March 22 

Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said he is "comfortable going into the season with cornerback Josh Norman playing with the franchise tag if a long-term deal can't be reached," per ESPN's David Newton.

Newton added that "Norman's representative" met with the Panthers at the league meeting this week, but the two sides remain "far apart" on a potential deal.

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Panthers to Continue Negotiations with Norman through Spring

Tuesday, March 8

To the surprise of no one, the Panthers placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Norman last week. According to ESPN.com's David Newton, the two parties have until July 15 to come to agreement on an extension; otherwise, Norman will be due $13,952,000 million for 2016.

Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported Tuesday that the Panthers view the franchise tag as a last resort and prefer to sign their All-Pro cornerback to a multiyear extension.

Another team could potentially sign Norman since Carolina used the non-exclusive tag, but in order to do so, the team would have to surrender two first-round picks. That all but ensures he'll stay with the Panthers.

Since he still has a few months to decide whether to sign the one-year tender, Norman is going to take his time before making a decision.

"I'm comfortable where I'm at. Trust and believe," he said on March 4, per Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. "If I've waited this long I can wait on them some more. I got no problem waiting. Waiting got me where I need to be at the end of the day."

Norman added he won't take less money to stay in Carolina.

According to Spotrac, the Panthers have a little over $24 million in cap space, so they have some wiggle room to accommodate Norman's extension and another free-agent signing or two.

Since that July deadline remains a relatively long period away, it's far too early for fans to begin panicking about Norman's future with the team. The worst-case scenario is the Panthers have him for another season and then go through this process all over again next spring.