The Arizona Cardinals don’t necessarily need to add anyone significant to their group of cornerbacks this offseason but they have the opportunity to do so if they wish.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo, the Washington Redskins are going to release veteran cornerback Josh Norman, which will make him a free agent a month ahead of free agency.
Norman played in only 12 games in 2019 and only had one interception and six pass breakups.
In 2018, he had three interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Now 32 years old, he could be an option for the Arizona Cardinals as a second cornerback. They already have Robert Alford under contract but he is coming off a lost season with a broken leg he suffered in training camp.
The Cardinals could release Alford before March and save $4.5 million in salary cap space (creating $3 million in dead money). His 2020 salary becomes fully guaranteed in March, so the Cardinals need to decide whether or not they believe he will be able to come back from his broken leg and be a starting-caliber player.
If not, Norman could be an option to pair with Patrick Peterson. There was a time when both Peterson and Norman were both argued to be the best cornerback in the NFL.
The Cardinals signed Alford last year in a similar scenario. He was released by the Atlanta Falcons after a disappointing season and the Cardinals signed him before free agency even began.
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