Chicago Bears Free Agency: Cornerbacks
Josh Norman (56 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries) — Carolina Panthers
Norman has helped the Carolina Panthers build a 15-1 regular season record. He is considered the top free agent cornerback on the market, and the Panthers will certainly do what they can to keep this asset.
Norman has put himself into the conversation with players like Richard Sherman. He has been a shut down cornerback.
Norman also has a fight in him. He went at it with the New York Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr in their matchup late in the season, and had him so riled up that Beckham completely forgot about football and just wanted to fight.
That is what you want in a cornerback — someone who will go toe-to-toe (not literally of course) with the top receivers and get under their skin.
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Norman is starting to get the Deion Sanders treatment — opposing quarterbacks are getting reluctant to throw his way. When they do, quarterbacks have a 54.0 passer rating, the lowest rating against any cornerback (according to Pro Football Focus).
Like Sanders, Norman has trouble tackling, but that did not hurt Sanders’ Hall of Fame credentials.
Norman finds himself going against the opposition’s best players — this season he has faced Beckham Jr, Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, Julio Jones and others, and except for the second game against Jones, Norman has been the victor.
There are several teams salivating for a chance to sign Norman — the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears among them, but Carolina will try to make sure he is not available.
Next: Chicago Bears Draft Prospects: Cornerbacks
If Norman does somehow hit the field, he will cost a king’s ransom, so the Chicago Bears may go elsewhere for cornerback help.