49ers reportedly front-runner to sign cornerback Josh Norman

On Wednesday, a few minutes after general manager Trent Baalke explained why the 49ers weren’t active in free agency this offseason, he noted how things can change rapidly in the NFL.

Less than 200 minutes later, the Panthers announced a no-one-saw-it-coming change by rescinding the franchise tag on All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman.

After signing only quarterback Thad Lewis and guard Zane Beadles, the 49ers are the leading candidate to land Norman, 28, Yahoo Sports reported, citing two league sources.

Norman reportedly wants to become the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, eclipsing the $14.02 million annual average salary of the Jets’ Darrelle Revis.

If signed, Norman probably would surpass quarterback Colin Kaepernick ($11.9 million base salary) as the 49ers’ highest-paid player.

Norman, a 2012 fifth-round pick, earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors last season after he had 22 starts and three interceptions in his first three seasons.

In 2015, he had four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and quarterbacks had an NFL-low 54.0 passer rating when targeting him, according to Pro Football Focus.

Elway indicated the Denver’s contract proposal, which would call for Kaepernick to take a substantial pay cut, remained on the table.

Despite Kaepernick’s dissatisfaction with the 49ers, Baalke hasn’t had an in-person conversation with Kaepernick since his trade request was made during the NFL combine.