Guard Andrew Norwell expected to sign with Jaguars
- By Kevin Patra NFL.com
- Published: March 13, 2018 at 06:47 a.m.
- Updated: March 13, 2018 at 08:40 a.m.
The
Jacksonville Jaguars are set to harpoon the top offensive lineman in free agency.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that former
Carolina Panthers guard
Andrew Norwell is expected to sign with the
Jaguars, according to sources informed of the deal. The deal is set to count five years and $66.5 million, with $30 million fully guaranteed.
Norwell's deal sets new highs for guards in total value, average per season and guarantees, per Over The Cap.
The deal cannot be finalized until the new league year opens Wednesdayat 4 p.m. ET.
The
Panthers would have liked to keep the 2017 first-team All-Pro, but couldn't afford to pay another guard huge money. Carolina eschewed the franchise-tag money that paid offensive tackle money.
Although the
Panthers didn't want to pay Norwell offensive tackle type cash, the
Jaguars are happy to.
Norwell immediately upgrades the interior of Jacksonville, which struggled much of last season. The addition of the undrafted 26-year-old will improve
Leonard Fournette's outlook for 2018. Norwell should also make life easier for
Blake Bortles protecting the QB from pressure up the gut.
After focusing on building up the defensive side of the ball last offseason, the Jags begin this new league year letting receiver
Allen Robinson walk to the
Bears and upgrading their offensive line. The game plan heading to 2018 is clear: Play D and pound the rock. Norwell's signing is the biggest key to that plan thus far.