Josh Norman Reportedly Offered to Sign Panthers' Franchise Tender

Josh Norman was supposedly willing to remain with the Carolina Panthers, but time ran out.

The All-Pro cornerback reportedly called the Panthers on Wednesday to let them know he would be willing to sign the team's $13.95 million franchise tender, but by the time he called, the Panthers had already filed the paperwork to rescind the franchise tag, according to Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review.

Norman's co-representative, Michael George, called his client to let him know about the Panthers' plans, and Norman "wasn't aware of how deep the divide was between the two sides," according to Voth.

The Panthers sent shockwaves throughout the NFL by rescinding Norman's franchise tag and deciding to let him test the free-agent waters. One day after becoming a free agent, the star cornerback signed with Ryan Williams of Athletes First, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Nunzio Ingrassia of Fox Sports).

Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman was willing to bring Norman back even after rescinding his franchise tag, but only in the $10-to-12 million range, per Voth. That led to Norman signing a five-year, $75 million deal with the Washington Redskins on Friday.

“It came out of nowhere. It really did,” Norman told Larry Michael on “Redskins Nation” on Friday, per Stephen Czarda of Redskins.com. “I got sideswiped—I didn’t see it coming.”

If Voth's report is true, it shows how badly Norman wanted to get a deal done with the Panthers and stay in Carolina. He was considering holding out from offseason activities until resolving his contract situation, per Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. But it also shows the Panthers were prepared to stand their ground and not give Norman the money he commanded on a new deal. 

He was one of many key components for the Panthers in their run to Super Bowl 50 last year. All of that, however, is in the past. The Panthers quickly moved on from Norman, and he did the same by signing with Washington and solidifying a struggling Redskins secondary. The task for Carolina now is to find a replacement for Norman, which the Panthers can do starting Thursday in the NFL draft.