Redskins could move on from Josh Norman: Report

At various moments last season, Redskins cornerback Josh Norman was frustrated with Washington’s lack of success. In December amid a two-game losing streak, Norman said he joined the Redskins to compete for championships, not be stuck in mediocrity.

Norman’s comments, at the time, fueled speculation whether the cornerback wanted to be with the Redskins in the future.

Now, a new report wonders if the feeling is mutual.

CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported Sunday there are “rumblings” about the Redskins possibly moving on from Norman this offseason.

Per La Canfora:

There are rumblings about Josh Norman’s future there as well, and they could save $15 million in cash and $8 million in cap space by parting with him. “You just moved on from a franchise quarterback and paid a guy to replace him who you didn’t have to pay, so anything is possible there,” a personnel director said. “There is no way I would have extended Alex Smith like that. I hear that Norman hates the front office and would want to leave anyway. Something could happen there.”

The Redskins could save $8 million in cap space, but the move would still carry $9 million in dead money — a sizable amount to pay for someone not to be there. Even if the Redskins trade him, Norman’s dead money would be on their cap.

Washington, however, could spread the $9 million hit over three years if they wanted to designate Norman as a “post June 1” release. Teams are allowed to use the provision, which helps spread the dead money over the remainder of the contract, twice per season, according to Over the Cap.

But on the field, Norman has been solid since singing a five-year, $75 million contract with the Redskins in 2016. Cutting Norman would create a huge hole in the secondary — especially since the Redskins traded away Kendall Fuller, a promising young corner, in the Alex Smith trade. Bashaud Breeland, the starter opposite Norman, is also a free agent. 

Norman also might take issue with the characterization of ’hating” the front office.

In December, Norman pushed back against the perception he wanted out of the District.

“It’s just hysterical really,” Norman said. “It’s just to the point where I don’t comment on it. What for? What’s the point? If you’re going to speculate, speculate. It always happens. You say things and they run with it. They put in their own twist and their own way, to where they have people thinking, ’maybe he is.’ Hey man, I’m here to play regardless.”

In January, Norman gave no indication he wanted to be somewhere else next season.

“We’ve just got to have a different mindset and approach when we come back to this field in 2018,” Norman said.