Panthers Brian Burns has an opportunity to help the team one last time on his way out
Brian Burns is still looking for a new contract. The Carolina Panthers failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension for Burns during the fifth year of his rookie deal, and the Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher will hit the open market. Burns will likely be franchise-tagged by the Panthers. But one NFL insider sees the […]
Brian Burns is still looking for a new contract.
The Carolina Panthers failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension for Burns during the fifth year of his rookie deal, and the Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher will hit the open market.
Burns will likely be franchise-tagged by the Panthers. But one NFL insider sees the 25-year-old as a tag-and-trade candidate.
"Burns could be tag-to-trade candidates," Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer wrote in a Wednesday mailbag. "In Burns’s case, it’s because he and the Panthers haven’t been close on a long-term agreement over the last couple of years."
Burns has sought a contract that matches the elite echelon of pass rushers in the league.
The Panthers haven't come close to reaching the number sought by the Panthers' defensive captain.
Working against Burns is the down season he suffered through in 2023. Due to injuries and coaching instability, Burns tallied his fewest sacks and tackles since his rookie season.
Also working against Burns' favor is that he has never played a significant role on a winning football team. Reality suggests the Panthers don't know whether Burns is a winning player.
His 2022 season, by far the best of his career, suggests he can play at an elite level. However, the Panthers don't appear extremely willing to pay him like pass rushers at the same level as Nick Bosa.
A to Z Sports' contract experts predict a deal for Burns in the realm of four years, $90 million.
Though the Panthers have cap space, they aren't the most flexible.
A to Z Sports views Burns' likelihood of getting franchise-tagged as high – adding validity to the prediction that he could be tagged and traded.
If the Panthers elect to tag-and-trade Burns, it would be a move that indicates a full commitment to rebuilding the roster from the ground up – something the Panthers haven't really done since David Tepper bought the team.
And trading away Burns could allow for the Panthers' defensive captain to help the team one last time on his way out the door.
Panthers have already lost with Brian Burns and free agency hasn’t even started yet
Brian Burns is set to hit free agency after the Carolina Panthers failed to ink a long-term extension for the outside linebacker during the season.
