Now, Stapleton is hearing that Norwell has narrowed down his choices to three finalists, which includes the 49ers. The two other teams are the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants.
Speculation had linked the Panthers guard to the New York Giants because of general manager Dave Gettleman, who held the same role with Carolina when Norwell signed in 2014.
"Norwell represents Gettleman's greatest hit as GM in Carolina, as he has ascended from undrafted free agent out of Ohio State to All-Pro status in a contract year in 2017," wrote Stapleton on Monday morning.
As Stapleton points out, Norwell joined the Panthers in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. He was named a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and has started all but one of his 55 game appearances over his four NFL seasons, including 16 starts in each of the last two seasons.
Norwell did not allow a sack, was Pro Football Focus' third-highest graded guard, and the top-graded pass-blocking guard in 2017. In 2016, Norwell allowed just two sacks for the season.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers among the Super Bowl LXI favorites, per ESPN's Football Power Index
The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a good season amidst a bounty of injuries, and ESPN's latest Football Power Index suggests they remain firmly in the Super Bowl conversation. This is despite some key players such as Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, George Kittle, and Mykel... -
49ers All-Pro: 'Mac Jones is a glue guy'
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones is entering his second season with the team and has already established himself as a favorite among teammates. Jones appeared in 11 games and made eight starts during his first year with the 49ers, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13... -
49ers All-Pro George Kittle: Mike Evans was 'cooking everybody' during OTAs
Mike Evans is expected to elevate the San Francisco 49ers offense in 2026, giving quarterback Brock Purdy a big-bodied red-zone weapon—arguably the best of his NFL career. While Evans has not typically participated in organized team activities (OTAs), which are voluntary... -
49ers defense ranks among NFL's least expensive units in 2026
The San Francisco 49ers head into the 2026 season with approximately $72 million in salary cap space, the most in the NFL by a wide margin, according to OverTheCap.com. The next-closest team, the Tennessee Titans, has nearly $50 million in available cap space. However, much of...