If there is one thing the Indianapolis Colts need, it’s help on the defensive side of the ball.

The Colts currently rank 26th in the NFL in defense, meaning they could be players for some defensive assistance between now and the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.

Bleacher Report’s NFL staff thinks Indianapolis should pursue Carolina Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns.

Burns and the Panthers were unable to reach a long-term agreement before the season, meaning that the star pass rusher will be a free agent in the spring. Burns is apparently seeking somewhere in the neighborhood of $26-28 million annually, a price that Carolina does not seem willing to pay.

As a result, the Panthers, who are 0-6, may elect to trade Burns over the next couple of weeks in order to recoup some value for him before he walks for nothing in free agency.

The Colts’ pass rush has actually been okay this season, as they have logged 18 sacks and also totaled 44 sacks in 2022. Still, they could always use a foundational piece like Burns, especially considering that they would have more than enough cap space to retain him in the offseason.

Burns has logged 20 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble through the first six weeks of 2023 and is coming off of a Pro Bowl 2022 campaign in which he racked up 63 tackles, 12.5 sacks, a forced fumble and three passes defended.

The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Florida State, was selected by Carolina with the 16th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has made a couple of Pro Bowl appearances thus far.

It would likely require a substantial package to pry Brian Burns away from the Panthers, but it would certainly be worth it for a Colts team that is 3-3 and is in the thick of the AFC playoff picture.

Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.