Josh Norman rose through the ranks last year to piece together a season that places him among the top cornerbacks in the NFL. On Wednesday, Norman was ranked the 11th-best player in the league.
Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman's incredible 2015 season placed him on the national map.
After a year in which he locked down receivers left and right, Norman on Wednesday night was named to the NFL's annual Top 100 Players list, checking in at No. 11.
It is the highest a Redskins player has ever been listed on the ranking since its inception in 2011.
The list, which is selected based on current player votes, also includes teammates Kirk Cousins (No. 85), Jordan Reed (No. 77) and Trent Williams (No. 45).
This is the first time Norman has appeared on the list after a 2015 campaign in which he recorded career highs in interceptions (four), forced fumbles (three) and fumbles recovered (two) in addition to tying for the league lead in interceptions returned for touchdowns (two).
By season's end, Norman collected All-Pro honors along with being the Pro Football Writers Association's Co-Most Improved Player of the Year along with Cousins.
Norman's contributions also helped Carolina land an appearance in Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos.
While Norman was originally expected to play out the 2016 season as the Panthers' franchise-tagged player, Carolina rescinded the offer on April 20.
Just two short days later, Norman was the newest member of the Redskins.
Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman has been voted the 11th best player on the NFL's "Top 100 Players of 2016" list.
Washington, a team that is coming off an NFC East title, attracted Norman with a young, talented core to build a successful future around.
"I would say what attracted me the most was that it still was a competitive team," Norman said in his first public comments after signing. "When we played you guys last year, you all was competing all the way until the bitter end. It was no let-up. You guys had the fight in you all. You're a playoff team; it was in the thick of things. And one piece here, one piece there, you guys can do what Carolina (did) when they went to the Super Bowl last year. And when I came here and I said that (about) that one missing piece, who knows, but I guarantee I'm going to give everything I am, everything I've got, because that's how I get it."
So far in his first two months with the Redskins, Norman has proven that. He's been at every practice and competed as hard as anyone on the field.
That's because of a fighter's mentality that allowed him to go from being a walk-on at Coastal Carolina to one of the NFL's elite cornerbacks.
"Oh my goodness, I carried a big bag with me when I came up here," Norman said. "I've still got that bag with me and it's on the back with now. You can't see it, but when I step in between them white lines, I'm going to drop it. When you see it, it's going to be pretty, pretty heavy, and I can't wait until that time comes."
For his career, Norman has appeared in 53 regular season games with 38 starts, recording 178 tackles (136 solo), 36 passes defensed, seven interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), four forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered.
