The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of several teams who have contacted cornerback Josh Norman, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer. Other teams include the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Norman hit free agency yesterday after the Carolina Panthers rescinded the franchise tag, supposedly because they couldn't reach a long-term agreement with the 28-year-old cornerback. Norman was arguably the best cornerback in the NFL last year, despite having an up-and-down career prior to 2015.
Signing Norman would be a blockbuster move for the Buccaneers, but it seems unlikely they'll actually pull the trigger. Norman wants a top-of-the-market deal, and general manager Jason Licht has not been willing to pay top dollar for top free agents, preferring to shop in the mid-tier markets.
Still, signing Norman would help revamp their secondary, and they'd have a very good pair of starting cornerbacks, having signed Brent Grimes earlier this offseason. The Bucs could afford Norman: they have over $15 million in cap space, and can free up over $10 million by cutting players like Alterraun Verner (whose presence would be obsolete with Norman on the roster), Gosder Cherilus and George Johnson. If they want to sign Norman, they can make him a top-notch offer. The question is whether the Bucs are willing to spend that money on a cornerback.