NFL free agency update: Andrew Norwell to sign with Jacksonville Jaguars

The NFL free agency is just getting started. One of the top offensive lineman on the market has already found a new home.

A season ago the Jacksonville Jaguars were big winners in free agency. They brought in corner A.J. Bouye and defensive end Calais Campbell on big money deals. Both of those players were the best on the market at their position. They also helped Jacksonville get to the AFC Championship.

With the 2018 NFL free agency getting started the Jaguars are again getting aggressive. This year the team will be bolstering their offense. Free agent guard Andrew Norwell intends to sign with the Jaguars.

Contract details

According to Adam Schefter the deal for Norwell will be 5-years and $66.5 million. The $13.3 million average makes him the highest paid guard in the NFL. That annual salary also makes Norwell the highest paid offensive lineman annually.

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Grade

A season ago Norwell graded out as one of the league’s top guards. The former undrafted free agent out of Ohio State is coming off his best season in the NFL. The Panthers could not justify bringing back the All-Pro guard after signing fellow guard Trai Turner a season ago.

Jacksonville drew Norwell to town over other interested teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants. The Jaguars seemingly came out of no where to sign the talented guard.

The Jaguars will place Norwell in between last year’s second round pick Cam Robinson and center Brandon Linder. Linder signed an extension a year ago. This unit, a strength a year ago, just got a whole lot stronger.

This contract is big for Dallas Cowboys’ guard Zach Martin. Martin and the team have been working on a contract extension dating back to last offseason. Norwell’s deal allows for the two sides to have a building block.

Grade: B+