2016 NFL Free Agency: 5 teams that should sign Josh Norman

The Carolina Panthers in the middle of the pack in the NFL in terms of cap space with around $29.5 million. While the reigning NFC Champions will have some tough decisions to make, arguably their toughest is if the Panthers are willing to pay shutdown cornerback Josh Norman what he’s probably worth on the open market.

Norman is coming off his best season in the NFL, making earning his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods in 2015. At times during the 2015 NFL season, it was actually better for opposing quarterbacks in terms of passer rating to spike the football in the ground every play than to throw in Norman’s general direction.

While the Panthers defense will remain one of the best in the NFL regardless of it they re-sign Norman, losing him in free agency would leave a gaping hole in the secondary that they may not be able to fill in time come the 2016 NFL season.

Even though the front four/seven has been the driving force of the Panthers’ defense pretty much since the franchise’s inception, not bringing back Norman into the fold in the secondary would leave the Panthers greatly exploitable in attacking them through the air in 2016.

Given that Carolina plays in a division with three other great quarterbacks in Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and now Jameis Winston, if the Panthers want to win the NFC South for the fourth straight season in a row and contend for another trip to the Super Bowl in 2016, they will need to keep as much of their defensive corps intact as possible.

With linebacker Thomas Davis in the twilight of his career, will the Panthers front office look to build their defense around Norman and middle linebacker Luke Kuechly in the future? Cam Newton is electrifying at quarterback, as he makes all players around him better. The best way to counterbalance that offensive attack of Mike Shula’s is to keep great players on defense for Sean McDermott to work with.

While it won’t be easy for both sides to come to agreement during negotiations, Carolina would be foolish to let Norman walk in free agency. Expect him to re-sign with the Panthers for the 2016 NFL season as a 28-year-old cornerback still clearly in his prime.