SAN FRANCISCO | If the Carolina Panthers re-sign cornerback Josh Norman, they should be well positioned to make another run through the NFC playoffs.
Norman, who was brilliant in Sunday’s 24-10 Super Bowl loss to Denver, is the only marquee Panthers player whose contract is expiring.
Per the NFLPA’s web site Monday, the Panthers are only $3.73 million under the salary cap.
But the cap could go up $10 million (to $153 million) and Carolina can free up $8.5 million by releasing veteran pass rusher Jared Allen.
The Panthers have two of the league’s biggest bargains: Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly’s 2016 cap number is $6 million and plays-every-snap tight end Greg Olsen is $5.