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Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones will resume rivalry with Panthers’ Josh Norman, who is franchise tagged

By Freddie Boston

Jan 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman (24) celebrates during the NFC Divisional round playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman (24) celebrates during the NFC Divisional round playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones will resume his rivalry with Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman in 2016, who was slapped with the franchise tag on Tuesday.

In some of the most unsurprising news of the day, the Carolina Panthers have designated the franchise tag on star cornerback Josh Norman.

Norman was a key part of the Panthers’ secondary en route to the Super Bowl in February. He will now be guaranteed $13.952 million if a long-term deal isn’t agreed by July 15. Both Norman and the Panthers will want to agree a multi-year deal.

According to David Newton of ESPN, the Panthers began negotiations with Norman on Thursday night at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, but are currently way off. Norman is reportedly seeking a multi-year deal worth around $14 million a year, which is in the same range as the Seahawks’ Richard Sherman and the Jets’ Darrelle Revis. If a deal can’t be agreed by July 15, Norman will be fully guaranteed the money in the one-year, franchise tag deal and will be set to hit free agency next offseason.

Norman was ranked No. 11 among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus with a 84.1 overall grade. The Falcons’ Desmond Trufant was two spots lower with a 83.7 grade.

Julio Jones will get a shot to make Norman prove he’s worth his contract when the Falcons take on the Panthers twice in 2016. Jones went off against Carolina in the past meeting, catching nine passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.

List of players franchise tagged

QB Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins ($19.953 million)
DE Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets ($15.701 million)
WR Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears ($14.599 million)
LB Von Miller, Denver Broncos ($14.129 million)
CB Trumaine Johnson, Los Angeles Rams ($13.952 million)
CB Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers ($13.952 million)
OT Cordy Glenn, Buffalo Bills ($13.706 million)
S Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs ($10.806 million)
K Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens ($4.572 million)

Transition tagged

DE Olivier Vernon, Miami Dolphins ($12.732 million)

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