Josh Norman signs lucrative deal with Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins have won the race to sign highly-prized free agent cornerback Josh Norman.

Norman only became a free agent last week after the Carolina Panthers rescinded his franchise tag and, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, he has signed a $75m (£52m) deal with the Redskins, with $50m (£34.7m) of that salary guaranteed.

The 28-year-old was an All-Pro corner last season and a big part of the Panthers' run to Super Bowl 50, where they were beaten by the Denver Broncos.

Washington emerged as a front-runner to sign Norman soon after he entered free agency, and they were able to get a deal done quickly, to the surprise of many including the player himself.

"When [the franchise tag was rescinded] it was crazy because Mr. Allen, the [Redskins] President, hit me up right away with a jersey, No. 24," Norman said.

"And the crazy thing is I didn't see it until a day and a half later because I was still getting over the fact of what was going on.

"Being somewhere 28 years all your life and just in a blink of an eye, gone, just like that, I've just never been without a job. That small amount of hours, everything went rapid and I came up here and it just felt right.

"I just feel so great about being here and the craziest part about it is you guys have been so nice to me since Day One.

"I mean everything [since] I've been here since I got off that plane, you guys have been so nice to me. I felt that homecoming and everything that was here. And so when I say that, everything I put into it since Day One, I'm going to give back just that much for it tenfold."