BILLS AGREE TO SIGN CORNERBACK JOSH NORMAN

Veteran cornerback Josh Norman has agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.

The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced. NFL Network first reported the deal.

Norman is an eighth-year player who spent the past four seasons in Washington before being released last month. He struggled to play to high expectations and was cut with one season left on a five-year, $75 million contract he signed in free agency in 2016.

In Buffalo, the 32-year-old

Norman gets an opportunity for a fresh start among familiar faces.

Bills coach Sean McDermott was the Panthers’ defensive coordinator during Norman’s first four NFL seasons in Carolina. Norman is also a known commodity to Bills general manager Brandon Beane, who worked in the Panthers’ front office at the same time.

Norman will be given an opportunity to compete with Levi Wallace for the starting job opposite Tre’Davious White. He also fills a potential need with cornerback Kevin Johnson eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next week.

Norman enjoyed his best season under McDermott in 2015 on a Panthers defense that led the league with 24 in

terceptions. He had a career-best four interceptions and returned two for touchdowns to earn his first and only All-Pro honor.

Last season, Norman had only eight starts in 12 games and understood his time with Washington was coming to an end after sitting out the team’s final four games.

“You’ve got to put it on yourself as a person to be better within what is happening, and I wasn’t,” Norman said on locker cleanout day. “I can accept that.”

Upon being released, he posted a note on his Twitter account saying he was “grateful for everything.”

Norman had seven interceptions and 43 passes defensed in 58 games with Washington. Overall, he has 14 interceptions and 12 forced fumbles in 111 career games.

ADAM HUNGER - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2019, file photo, Washington Redskins’ Josh Norman is shown on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J. Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that veteran cornerback Josh Norman has agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. The people spoke to The AP on Monday, March 9, 2020, on the condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced.

RICK SCUTERI - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, Washington Redskins wide receiver Paul Richardson makes a move during the team’s NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. The Redskins have released cornerback Josh Norman and wide receiver Richardson. Norman struggled to live up to the $75 million, five-year contract he signed in 2016 after an All-Pro season in Carolina. He was let go with one year left on that deal. Norman’s release and $12.5 million salary-cap savings could pave the way for Washington to give cornerback Quinton Dunbar a raise. Richardson’s release doesn’t save as much.

BY JOE BOYLE JBOYLE@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM @BOYLERALERTTROY ON TWITTER Jack Long drives the hoop on March 5 at Cool Insuring Arena in Averill Park’s Class A semifinal matchup with Lansingburgh.