As Brian Burns looks toward free agency, the Carolina Panthers are wrestling with a dilemma. 

Following a down season, the Panthers have to decide whether to pay edge rusher Brian Burns. The two sides couldn't agree during the season, and there is a high probability Burns could end up franchise-tagged. 

Recently, Pro Football Focus named Burns a player the Panthers can not let go, and for good reason. 

"The Panthers moved on from vice president of football administration Samir Suleiman in a restructuring of their front office, and the new lead negotiator needs to make it a priority to work through an extension for Burns," Brad Spielberger writes.

"Burns has logged at least 800 snaps in three consecutive seasons with at least 40 quarterback pressures, eight sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 30 defensive stops."

The Panthers have a monumental offseason ahead of them. To many, that means bringing back Burns, the best defensive player the Panthers have had in the past three seasons. 

But the market will decide Burns' value and that will dictate what the Panthers do. 

What is Brian Burns' value?  

Burns is in the echelon of good but not great. That will notably affect his contract negotiations. 

Currently, Burns has one season to his name with double-digit sacks. That performance came in 2022 when the Panthers were one win removed from winning the NFC South.

Still, the Panthers view him as a can't-lose player. A to Z Sports' cap experts predict Burns could earn somewhere in the realm of $90 million over four years. 

Brian Burns’ 2024 free agency contract projection

The Panthers pass rusher is about to cash in.