On Monday it was reported that the Buffalo Bills agreed to a deal with Josh Norman and this is our grade for the move.
When the Washington Redskins released Josh Norman last month the rumor mill kicked into over-drive connecting Norman with the Buffalo Bills. The connection made a great deal of sense considering Sean McDermott, who is now head coach of the Bills, was Norman’s defensive coordinator to start his career with the Carolina Panthers.
The cornerback went on to have his best years in the NFL playing in McDermott’s system, including being nominated as a first-team All-Pro in 2015. He went on to sign a lucrative deal with the Washington Redskins but could not replicate the same success playing under McDermott.
When news broke, first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, on Monday morning that the Buffalo Bills and Josh Norman agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $8 million it wasn’t that big of a surprise.
While it was a logical connection, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it was the right move for the Buffalo Bills. This is how we grade the team’s decision to sign Josh Norman looking at three key components: team need, team fit, and contract which will contribute to a final grade.