Will 49ers GM Baalke break character to sign Josh Norman?

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UPDATE (3:20pm on Thursday) -- It appears the Josh Norman sweepstakes are heating up.

The 49ers and Washington have emerged as the front-runners, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Rapoport is also reporting that Norman will visit with Washington on Friday.

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SANTA CLARA – All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman delayed signing his one-year, $13.952 million franchise tag, in hopes of landing a long-term extension.

The Carolina Panthers rescinded the offer on Wednesday, immediately making him an unrestricted free agent. The money only would have become fully guaranteed upon Norman's signing.

The 49ers have a need at cornerback. And the organization has $52.6 million in cap space, according to the latest NFL Players Association figures.

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The 49ers investigated the possibility of signing a cornerback during the opening days of free agency. Now, they are also reportedly showing interest in Norman, who was seeking an annual salary of $16 million a year, the Charlotte Observer reported.

[MAIOCCO: 49ers draft outlook: Norman outcome could impact need]

Reserve quarterback Thad Lewis and guard Zane Beadles are the only free agents the 49ers added through the first five weeks of free agency. And, despite trumpeting their cap space in the offseason, general manager Trent Baalke said it was never the organization’s intention to make big splashes with free-agent signings.

“As you know, we’ve never been huge believers in the opening market of free agency because, let’s face it, no matter who you take in the opening market, you’re overpaying them,” Baalke said.

“History proves that. Ninety-plus percent of the guys that enter free agency have never made a Pro Bowl. Ninety-plus percent of the ones that get signed as free agents never make the Pro Bowl. So you have a less-than 10-percent chance of hitting on a Pro Bowl-caliber player, yet you’re paying him at the top of the market.

“It’s like buying a stock at its high.”

Although the Raiders made big moves in free agency, including the signing of cornerback Sean Smith, teams from California are at an inherent disadvantage in free agency.

With the high state income taxes, California teams must offer significantly more in gross pay for players to net the same money they can get from teams based in lower-tax states.

Robert Raiola, of the Sports & Entertainment Group of the CPA and advisory firm of PKF O'Connor Davies, cited the example of defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh from a year ago. Suh received $60 million guaranteed from the Miami Dolphins, which equates to $36 million after taxes. The Raiders, a finalist for Suh's services, would have been forced to pay $70.1 million to match the $36 million net amount, according to Raiola.

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