Other than potentially bringing back cornerback Kendall Fuller, one of the most surefire roster moves that the Washington Redskins were expected to make in 2020 was the release of veteran cornerback Josh Norman.
They did so in early February, allowing Norman to beat the free agency CB market and figure out his landing place before the rest of the wild cards could look for a new home. That landing place happens to be with the Buffalo Bills, where he will play on a one-year deal worth $6 million.
The Redskins and their fans are happy to be rid of Norman and the hefty salary cap hit he carried with him, and they have moved on to a new starting lineup in the secondary, one that includes both Fuller and former Philadelphia Eagle Ronald Darby. As for Norman, he seems to be happy where he is as well, and the Bills are happy to have him, according to USA TODAY’s Bills Wire:
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane justified the acquisition while talking to reporters on Thursday via video call. While slightly admitting there might be some understandable questions, Beane said Norman has a bit of a chip on his shoulder and that was appealing to the GM.
“We didn’t feel like the system he was in, in Washington, played to his strengths. We think he felts our scheme well. Knowing Josh, I don’t think he liked the way things went there this past season,” Beane said. “He’s a great young man, he plays with a chip on his shoulder, he’ll bring an edge to our defense and I think he’s got something to prove, that’s what we’re betting on here.
It could be that Norman was never a solid fit in Washington, or it could be that he was past his prime — it’s likely a little bit of both. However, Norman was always a solid player and teammate in Washington, and his time spent in the D.C. was valuable to the community as a whole. Here’s to hoping that he can find a better fit in Buffalo.
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