The Carolina Panthers slapped a franchise tag on edge rusher Brian Burns, but that does not necessarily mean he will be playing for the team in 2024.
Will Brinson of CBS Sports does not think the two sides will reach a long-term deal, and he also does not think the Panthers are going to want to pay him the $24 million his tag will cost next season.
That leaves only one other option: a trade.
Brinson notes that Carolina is surely regretting not trading Burns for the two first-round draft picks the Los Angeles Rams reportedly offered back at the deadline in October.
Now, the Panthers will almost certainly not be getting that in return for Burns.
It’s quite the predicament for Carolina, who really can’t afford to keep him while rebuilding. On the other hand, trading Burns for what will likely be a skimpy return given his value is going to sting. A lot.
Regardless, the Panthers may have no other choice.
Burns is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he played 16 games and registered 50 tackles, eight sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Florida State, was selected by Carolina in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
He immediately flashed his potential during his rookie year, logging 25 tackles, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.
The following season, Burns showed marked improvement, recording 58 tackles, nine sacks and three forced fumbles.
Then, in 2021 and 2022, the Fort Lauderdale, Fl. native made back-to-back trips to the Pro Bowl, with his best season coming in the latter year when he racked up 63 tackles and 12.5 sacks.
We’ll see what avenue the Panthers decide to pursue with Brian Burns in the coming weeks and months.
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