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Is Josh Norman the final piece for unproven Redskins?

Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / Getty

All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman could be the final piece that allows the Washington Redskins to seriously contend for a Super Bowl after they signed him to a five-year deal reportedly worth $75 million on Friday. Norman represents a calculated risk for the Redskins, who could be on the verge of a breakthrough with a promising - but untried - foundation.

The Redskins have already assembled a number of vital pieces at their most important positions, potentially setting the team up for sustained long-term success. Unfortunately, with the exception of four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, all of them are unproven or erratic performers.

Kirk Cousins excelled beyond anyone's most sanguine projections, completing a league-best 69.8 percent of his passes and earning the franchise-tag designation. With a 16-game sample, though, it's unclear whether that campaign was an anomaly. Ryan Kerrigan's numbers indicate he's a prolific pass-rusher, but he's prone to recording sacks in bunches, and was held off the stat sheet eight times last year. Preston Smith displayed massive improvement during his rookie year, recording five sacks in his final three games; whether he can sustain that production is still in question.

Norman, meanwhile, was arguably the league's best cornerback during the 2015 season, leading the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance. The 28-year-old was incorrectly characterized by some as a one-year wonder - his stellar previous seasons were overshadowed by teammates Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis - but he did play his best football with his previous contract expiring. However, there's little to suggest he'll experience a decline after becoming the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

Despite adding Norman, though, it's reasonable to be concerned about the rest of the Redskins' defensive back group. Bashaud Breeland compiled a breakout season and is the biggest beneficiary of Norman's signing, but he's still inconsistent. Norman is the now the unquestioned leader of the Redskins' secondary and will be tasked with propelling Breeland, among others, to a higher level in 2016.

Redskins owner Dan Snyder's comical aggressiveness in previous summers is reason enough to be skeptical about the Norman signing. Snyder eroded public goodwill and lost the benefit of the doubt due to his unwillingness to change the team's offensive moniker and a track record of asinine contracts; Albert Haynesworth's seven-year, $100-million deal in 2009 still haunts the organization. However, it would be fallacious to assume this version of the Redskins will capitulate in the same manner as previous squads just because of Norman's contract.

The rest of the NFC East is in turmoil and the Norman signing marks the Redskins' window to capitalize. Dallas is coming off its worst season since 1989 and Tony Romo's shoulder hangs in the balance as the organization nervously hopes its elite offensive line alone can keep him upright. Philadelphia hired Doug Pederson as its new head coach while the club tries to clean up the debris Chip Kelly left behind. New York spent heavily in free agency to improve the league's worst passing defense, and questions about its top-heavy structure remain. In comparison, Washington surprisingly seems like a model of stability amid chaos.

With Norman, the Redskins possess all the potential to make a deep postseason run. As the rest of the division remains in flux, Norman could be the final piece in the Redskins' potential march toward the Super Bowl - if the franchise's faith in the rest of its core pays off too.

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