Josh Norman Signs with Redskins: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

Cornerback Josh Norman's surprising foray into free agency is over, as the All-Pro defensive back has agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins, the team announced.

NFL Network's Rand Getlin and Ian Rapoport initially reported the news Friday.

Rapoport reported the deal is a five-year contract worth $75 million, with $50 million in guarantees. However, Albert Breer of NFL Network reported $36.5 million is fully guaranteed. Breer added Saturday that Norman will get $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses in 2017 and noted the last of his injury guarantee, worth $13.5 million, kicks in March 2018.

Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac reported Norman's deal carries a cap hit of $8 million next season, $20 million in 2017 and $17 million in 2018.

Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported the Carolina Panthers' offer to Norman was $44 million over four years.

Norman spoke about his decision after the signing, per Stephen Czarda of Redskins.com:

"

When [the franchise tag was rescinded] it was crazy because Mr. Bruce [Allen], the President, hit [me] up right away with a jersey, No. 24. And the crazy thing is I didn't see it until a day and a half later because I was still getting over the fact of what was going on. Being somewhere 28 years all your life and just in a blink of an eye, gone, just like that, I've just never been without a job. That small amount of hours, everything went rapid and I came up here and it just felt right. ...

I'm looking forward to getting back to the playoffs here. You guys went last year, I'm looking forward to going even deeper into the playoffs and then the Super Bowl. That's our motto, that's here, that's the goal. That's the ultimate goal. Yeah, you get to playoffs, you get deep into the rounds, the divisional and then the championship. I want to win the granddaddy of them all. I want to win the Super Bowl. And I'm not going to stop until I get back there. Because I know I will one day and then make the wrong a right.

"

Norman also took to Twitter following the deal:

Grutman Sports & Entertainment posted footage of Norman and his family celebrating the new deal:

The Redskins' official Twitter account relayed a picture of Norman putting pen to paper:

UNINTERRUPTED offered an inside look at Norman in the meeting room just prior to the official announcement:

The Panthers shocked the football world Wednesday when they rescinded Norman's franchise tag because of a lack of progress toward striking a long-term deal. That made the 28-year-old veteran an unrestricted free agent.

According to Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review, when the team told Norman's agent, Michael George, it was rescinding the franchise tag, George got in touch with Norman, who "immediately contacted" the Panthers and offered to sign the franchise tender. However, Carolina had already filled out the paperwork.

Norman was arguably the best cornerback in the game during the 2015 season, and he wanted to be compensated as such, according to Rapoport:

The Panthers were unwilling to meet the Greenwood, South Carolina, native's demands after just a single Pro Bowl campaign, but former superstar wide receiver Chad Johnson suggested letting Norman go was a major misstep on their part:

Norman appeared in all 16 regular-season games in 2015 and was a driving force behind Carolina's run to the Super Bowl along with quarterback Cam Newton.

The former fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina registered 56 tackles and four interceptions, and he ranked at or near the top in several important categories among NFL cornerbacks, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Aside from the fact Norman has performed at an elite level for only one season, perhaps the biggest question mark is his ability to fit into defensive schemes other than the one Carolina used.

According to Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus, however, Norman played several different types of coverages in 2015, which may have eased some of Washington's concerns:

While there is risk involved with signing a player to a huge contract after one great season, bringing in Norman could pay big dividends for the Redskins.

Washington's offense carried it to an NFC East crown and playoff berth in 2015 with quarterback Kirk Cousins leading the way, but adding Norman suddenly gives the team a significantly stouter defense and more flexibility come draft day, as NFL Network's Charley Casserly explained:

Norman also adds narrative intrigue to the Redskins' schedule considering he's now slated to face a certain New York Giants receiver twice a year, as the New York Daily News' Frank Isola noted:

The Charlotte Observer's Jonathan Jones provided some more insight into the ongoing feud:

While Bashaud Breeland and Chris Culliver didn't represent a bad starting cornerback duo, the signing of Norman allows one of them to revert to a nickel role, which gives the Redskins a deeper and more talented secondary.

Big-money signings typically haven't worked out well for Washington during Dan Snyder's ownership era, but Norman could be the piece the Redskins need to contend for a Super Bowl title if his 2015 production carries over into 2016 and beyond.

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