In a post-draft move to help the Jacksonville Jaguars’ salary cap, Andrew Norwell agreed to restructure his deal. Per Field Yates of ESPN, both sides agreed to renegotiate the veteran’s contract by switching his base salary pay from $11.5 million in non-guaranteed money to $9 million in full guarantees. He also will have a chance to earn $2.5 million in incentives, too.
The Jaguars and G Andrew Norwell agreed to a renegotiated deal in which he earns a $9M fully guaranteed base salary, with the solid chance to earn $2.5M back in realistic incentives. Previously, Norwell was due $11.5M non-guaranteed, now he gets security.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 28, 2020
As most can recall, Norwell signed a five-year $66.5 million deal with the Jags in March of 2018 as an unrestricted free agent from the Carolina Panthers. At the time, the contract made him the highest-paid guard but many fans have been critical of him as he hasn’t played up to the deal. While he hasn’t been terrible, his contract occupied almost 7% of the Jags’ salary cap (third-most on the team), which is why we deemed it one of the worst on the team.
In 2019, Norwell registered a Pro Football Focus grade of 65.5. Before that he registered a 69.3 in 2019. With the young Gardner Minshew II behind him and running back Leonard Fournette on a contract year, the Jags’ backfield will need the veteran to become the All-Pro he once was in 2017 with Carolina.