Before Josh Norman signed with the team last week, there was no question about where Bashaud Breeland ranked among the Redskins’ cornerbacks.
Breeland was the top man at corner after turning in two NFL seasons that provided reason to believe that he’ll grow into a fixture in the team’s defense over the coming years. Now Breeland has been knocked down a peg by the arrival of Norman, something he said led to a negative reaction when he first heard the news of Norman’s signing on Friday.
“To be honest, at first I took it as disrespect. Me being a competitor, trying to be at that level as a No. 1 corner not only on the team but in the league as well,” Breeland said to Zig Fracassi and Rick Neuheisel of SiriusXM NFL Radio.
As the interview went on, Breeland explained how he came to see the signing as a “chess move” that makes the Redskins defense better heading into the 2016 season. He also believes that he and Norman can help each other get better as players.
If that’s the case, Breeland will be looking at a big contract of his own in a couple of years and Norman’s deal may raise the bar for cornerbacks around the league. Whatever the initial feelings, there are a lot of ways that this deal could work out well for Breeland along with Norman and the team.