© Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
It didn’t take long for the San Francisco 49ers to make some noise in the free agent negotiating period, which began Monday morning. According to Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com, the 49ers, along with the New York Giants, are connected to free agent offensive guard Andrew Norwell.
https://twitter.com/art_stapleton/status/973216367158677504
It only took four years with the Carolina Panthers for the 26-year-old to make a name for himself as one of the best guards in the NFL. Last season, Norwell was the only offensive lineman with over 200 pass blocking snaps that didn’t follow in a sack or quarterback hit and made first-team All-Pro. Norwell was ranked as the third best guard in all of football last season according to Pro Football Focus.
Norwell could find himself signed to a lucrative deal this offseason and the 49ers have the cap space to give him that, even after signing Jimmy Garoppolo and extending Marquise Goodwin. The 49ers are in need of buffing up their offensive line now that former right guard Brandon Fusco is on the free agent market and left guard Laken Tomlinson headed for last year of his contract.
