As the search for the Carolina Panthers' next head coach and general manager continues, Brian Burns could be receiving some unfavorable news. 

All season, the Panthers and Burns worked to find common ground on a contract extension. That deal, however, never came. 

So after playing out the fifth-year option on his contract, ESPN is predicting a non-ideal outcome for Burns, who is still looking to get paid. 

"The Panthers will be unable to reach a new contract deal with Burns, forcing them to use the franchise tag to keep him around for 2024," ESPN predicts. "They will also turn down the 2025 fifth-year option for cornerback Jaycee Horn because of his inability to stay healthy."

Burns and the Panthers have struggled to find the necessary deal that leaves both parties happy. After a down season, where Burns wasn't nearly as impactful as he wanted to be.

Brian Burns contract projection? 

"Burns has never broken through the ceiling to really establish himself as a premier pass rusher in the NFL. This is in part due to him only having one season with 10+ sacks (a 12.5-sack campaign in 2022). It’s also because he has never cracked 70 pressures in a season," writes A to Z Sports. 

A to Z Sports has projected a four-year, $90 million contract for Burns. 

It is also projected that there is a high likelihood that he will get franchise-tagged. 

Brian Burns’ 2024 free agency contract projection

The Panthers pass rusher is about to cash in.