Re-grading the Buffalo Bills top free agent signings from 2020
Buffalo Bills. JOSH NORMAN. B-. .
Free Agent Contract: 1 year, $6 million
In the first few seasons with Sean McDermott as head coach and Brandon Beane as general manager, their solution for the second cornerback spot opposite Tre’Davious White was to bring in veteran cornerbacks.
These veterans would compete with Levi Wallace and this strategy worked to varying degrees of success as Kevin Johnson was a player who had a good season but there was also Vontae Davis, who retired at halftime of his first regular season game.
As for Josh Norman, McDermott and Beane were familiar with the former All-Pro from their time in Carolina but Norman was coming off a few down years with Washington and was released earlier in that offseason. The thought was that maybe being reunited with McDermott could help him bounce back playing in the defense he had success previously.
Unfortunately for Norman, his time with Buffalo got off to a slow start due to a hamstring injury in training camp that forced him on injured reserve to start the year. However, he returned a few weeks later and would play in nine games and start three in his only season in Buffalo.
He would also play pretty well as that season was the only year in the past four years that quarterbacks have had a QB rating under 100 when targeting him.
While Josh Norman didn’t return to being an All-Pro he was a good contributor to this defense and was productive on a short-term deal. This is another move that should receive a good grade.