John Glennon

jglennon@tennessean.com

One of the league’s best cornerbacks is all of a sudden on the market.

Will the Titans take a run at Josh Norman?

The answer to that question will be revealed in coming days, following the Panthers' surprising decision on Wednesday to rescind the franchise tag on Norman, allowing him to immediately become a free agent.

Norman could have signed his franchise tender and made about $14 million next year, but he was apparently looking for a multiyear deal worth more than $14 million per season.

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The Charlotte Observer reported that Norman was looking for a multiyear contract in the neighborhood of $16 million per year, and that he was not planning to report for the start of the team’s offseason training program next Monday without a new deal.

Here are three factors the Titans are likely to take into consideration in regards to Norman, a South Carolina native:

Filling a need

There’s no question the Titans need help in the secondary, whether it comes in the form of Norman or through the draft next week.

The Titans surrendered 34 touchdown passes last season — tied for the third-most in the league — and allowed opponents a combined passer rating of 101.3, the fourth-highest in the league.

Starter Jason McCourty said earlier this week that he’s 100 percent healthy after two groin surgeries last year, but who’s to say whether the injury might flare up again? The other starter, Perrish Cox, had some good games and some struggles last season.

The Titans added free agents Brice McCain and Antwon Blake, but neither player has been a regular starter throughout his career.

So there’s no doubt Norman, who posted four interceptions, three forced fumbles and 19 passes defensed last season, would be a welcome addition. He allowed the lowest passer rating among cornerbacks on passes thrown his direction, per Pro Football Focus.

Salary situation

The Titans are about $30 million under the salary cap, so they could certainly afford Norman’s demands this season.

But it’s not necessarily that simple.

Keep in mind that Norman would likely be looking for a four- or five-year deal with a very large base salary in all of those seasons. Would the Titans want to sink that kind of cap cash into a player who will turn 29 in December?

In addition, the Titans would have to decide just how much money they’d want to spend at the cornerback position. McCourty is scheduled to count $8.8 million against the cap in 2016, with Cox at $5.8 million, McCain $1.7 million and Blake $1.5 million, per overthecap.com.

Defensive fit

Would Norman be as good a fit in any defense as he was in Carolina’s last season?

The Panthers played a lot of zone coverage, which was perfect for Norman’s strengths — he read routes well and jumped them successfully. But some questioned whether Norman was a true “shutdown” corner because he usually played an area of the field as opposed to a certain receiver.

It remains to be seen how defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau — calling the plays for the first time with the Titans — will strategize. But he’s used a lot of man-to-man in the past.

Reach John Glennon at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @glennonsports.

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