Two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns is looking at, for the first time in his NFL career, a change of roles. 

The Carolina Panthers defense is shifting from a base 4-3 to a 3-4, which will shift Burns' position from edge to outside linebacker. Making things interesting for Burns is that he spent the offseason recovering from ankle surgery, so his reps in the new defense have been limited until the first training camp practice on Wednesday. 

Though it is a slight change in roles, Burns plans to still go after the quarterback with the same intensity and ferocity that earned him his Pro Bowl nods. He spoke of playing in a different defensive base Wednesday, where he insinuated that playing in a 3-4 will actually make him a better player. 

“I think it’ll showcase my IQ more than anything,” he said. “I mean, physically, it’s so much more you could do at my position. But I think it’ll showcase my IQ more than anything, just because of the disguises and really mappin’ out and understandin’ formations.

“Like, I think I can make more plays in that type of role. Now I have a little freedom to move about over the slot, back, up, it doesn’t really matter. I just feel like me being able to disguise the way I want to can probably open up some opportunities for me.”

What makes the timing of the shift interesting is Burns is currently engaged in contract talks with the front office. As he enters the final year of his rookie contract, Burns is looking for a long-term deal that gives him the security he is looking for as one of the NFL's quality defensive starters. 

Tuesday, Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer admitted that there is currently no timeline for Burns' deal, but that he wants the Pro Bowler back on a contract extension. 

"They've been good conversations," Fitterer said. "It's not like we have to say it has to be done by this time or that time. We just keep talking. And when the time's right, and we make a deal that's right for him and right for us, that'd be great.

"He's a big part of the organization. We love having Brian around. He's really grown as a leader. Not just as a player but as a leader. He's one of those guys you just love being around."

Burns could have held out of training camp as his agent and the organization work toward a contract extension, but he chose. to play — a move that bucks the trend of stars sitting out of training camp until the team bends to their will. 

"I was going to show up," Burns said. I would say mainly just because I missed it. I missed being with my defense.

"And I kind of feel like what we've got going is bigger than – I don't want to say it's bigger than my individual goals, because those matter, of course – but I feel like what we've got building is bigger than that. And I feel like I'm a key piece to what we need to get done. So I feel like I need to be here. Whether or not I'm going through negotiations, or whatever."

Also in the back of Burns' mind is the change in the role he will be playing in 2023. Too much time away could have hurt his ability to be an effective contributor. But that is not how Burns is wired. He's going to play and produce, those two things are seemingly a guarantee. 

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Feature image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.