Redskins land Norman with five-year, $75M deal
Top cover cornerback will renew fierce rivalry with Beckham two times a year
Now we’ll get to see Odell Beckham Jr. face Josh Norman twice a season.
Norman, arguably the NFL’s premier cover cornerback, on Friday night signed a five-year contract with the Washington Redskins.
The deal is worth $75 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, with $50 million guaranteed. Carolina had rescinded the all-pro’s franchise tag on Wednesday, convinced the two sides could never agree on a long-term deal.
His new deal with the Redskins averages $15 million.
Beckham is the star wide receiver of the New York Giants. He and Norman infamously practically tried to maul one another in a game at MetLife Stadium last December. Beckham was flagged three times for unnecessary roughness, Norman twice. Offsetting flags could have been thrown after every play, it got so bad at one point in the third quarter.
Finally, near the conclusion of a run play, Beckham dived at the head of Norman, who was away from the play, and “ear-holed” him, in the vernacular of players — that is, speared him with his helmet into the side of Norman’s head. A day later, the NFL suspended him for one game.
As the Giants and Redskins both play in the NFC East, Beckham and Norman get to face one another twice per season now.
Draft them later: Next week’s NFL draft is so fat with quality interior defensive linemen, there could be an early run on position groups that are thin.
The thinking, NFL Network’s chief draft analyst Mike Mayock said Friday, is that you can get a stud interior D-lineman later. So why pick one sooner?
“I’ve talked to several teams in the last couple of weeks,” Mayock said, “all of whom believe that (D-line) group is so deep, we’re going to see teams in the first and second rounds kind of going after positions of need that aren’t anywhere near as deep — like, say, wide receiver.”
Or tight end. Or edge rushers. Among other things he’s hear- ing from team talent evaluators, Mayock said he now believes the top two offensive tackle prospects — Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss and Ronnie Stanley of Notre Dame — will be gone by the time Tampa Bay picks at No. 9 overall. Both could even go in the top five, Mayock said.
Houston to play? It looks like Justin Houston, Kansas City’s star edge rusher, will indeed play this year.
“Our doctors have assured us that Justin will be playing this season,” Chiefs GM John Dorsey said, according to the Kansas City Star. Houston had ACL and LCL surgery in February.
Jets and Fitz: The New York Jets and free-agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick remain far apart in contract talks. GM Mike Maccagnan on Friday did not sound concerned.
“Our focus has always been Ryan,” said Maccagnan. “We like Ryan and that’s what we’re trying to facilitate. It’ll work itself out.”
Fitzpatrick is coming off his best season, throwing 31 touchdowns against 15 interceptions.