CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In two games, Josh Norman has taken a shot at ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, taken heat for saying he eye-gauged a receiver and taken an $8,861 hit in the wallet for taunting.

The Carolina Panthers' cornerback also has taken a lot of praise.

Norman made two game-changing plays in the opener and shut down Houston wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in Week 2. He's one of several reasons the Panthers are 2-0 heading into Sunday's game against New Orleans.

"He's playing very well," coach Ron Rivera said on Monday. "We gave him the challenge against Hopkins. He still made a couple of mistakes, missed a couple of coverages.

"But for the most part he kept everything in front of him. ...He didn't do anything to upset my stomach, so we're OK there."

Norman (6-foot, 190) does upset Rivera's stomach from time to time, either by what he says or when he relies more on natural ability than playing in the scheme.

"He has that tendency," Rivera said with a chuckle.

What really would upset Rivera's stomach would be to lose Norman after this season.

With every game and every play, the price tag for the fourth-year player out of Coastal Carolina goes up. The Panthers already may be regretting not getting a deal done before the season.

Pro Football Focus ranks Norman fifth among NFL cornerbacks with an overall score of 4.4. Only Cincinnati's Adam Jones (5.3), Denver's Aqib Talib (5-1), Miami's Brent Grimes (4.9) and St. Louis' Trumaine Johnson (4.9) rank higher.

In terms of pass coverage, Norman ranks second (4.2) only to Talib (5.1).

Norman clearly is No. 1 among Carolina corners. Nickelback Bene' Benwikere has an overall rating of 1.3 to rank 34. Veteran Charles Tillman is No. 103 at minus-1.9.

Norman had a rating of 3.1 in coverage against Hopkins. He held the third-year receiver, who grew up two counties away from his Greenwood, South Carolina home, to six catches for 40 yards on 12 targets.

None were for a first down.

This came a few days after Norman rebuked Gruden's comment on the opening "Monday Night Football" broadcast that he hadn't seen anybody cover Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones in two years.

Norman limited Jones to a combined 10 catches, 107 yards and no touchdowns in two games last season.

If Norman continues at this pace he will be in for a big raise from the $1,542,000 he's currently making. He'll be able to justify a salary in the yearly $10 million-plus range that would put him among the top 10 cornerbacks.

ESPN analytical analyst KC Joyner says the big plus on Norman is he doesn't give up stretch vertical completions and penalties on throws of 20 or more yards. Norman ranked fifth in the NFL in that category last season, allowing 3.4 yards per attempt.

He has yet to give up a stretch vertical completion or penalty this season.

Joyner calls that being a "difference-maker." He said to replace Norman with an average corner that gives up 10 to 11 yards per attempt could lead to one or two losses.

"So it would be in Carolina's best interest to get him re-signed," Joyner said.

Whether the Panthers will pay Norman the big bucks remains to be seen. They weren't willing to go that high during this past offseason.

The franchise tag could be an option, but the tag for a cornerback this season is about $13 million, to give you an idea of what that would cost.

"I am a big fan of Norman," ESPN analyst Matt Williamson said. "Great size, fluid mover, plays with physicality. He is probably best as a zone player, but certainly has man-to-man traits that are improving.

"I think he makes a ton this offseason and could be a franchise tag type candidate."

Norman is doing a good job of keeping his focus on the field and not his contract. He understands that -- and not upsetting Rivera's stomach -- is the best way to ensure his future regardless of where he ends up.

The Panthers will take that.