In what is seemingly becoming a weekly tradition, a big-name star is holding out for a new contract. Carolina Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns, a two-time Pro Bowler, reportedly did not practice during Monday’s walkthrough. When asked about Burns’ absence, first-year head coach Frank Reich could not confirm that the former first-round pick would suit up in Sunday’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons without a new contract. Multiple teams have tried to trade for Brian Burns in the past, but if contract talks stall, will Carolina finally give in and ship their homegrown talent off to another team?
Developing situation: #Panthers star pass-rusher Brian Burns did not participate at team walkthroughs today and HC Frank Reich declined to provide details whether his absence is related to his contract.
Reich: "Do I hope he's there vs. Atlanta? Absolutely. But if he's not there,… pic.twitter.com/VtKD1MVQKP
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 4, 2023
Report: Brian Burns Holding Out for New Contract, Trade Could Be on the Way
The Current Situation
While nobody will confuse him with prime J.J. Watt, Brian Burns has established himself as one of the NFL’s better pass rushers over the past few years. Since entering the league, the Florida State product has recorded 38 sacks, 77 quarterback hits, 196 tackles, and 43 tackles-for-loss. He has been one of the few bright spots for the franchise since 2019, and it’s clear that the Panthers want to keep him around for the long haul.
At the 2022 trade deadline, the Carolina Panthers had already fired their head coach and shipped Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers. It was evident that this team was building for the future, but they still refused to trade Brian Burns. The Los Angeles Rams reportedly offered multiple first-round picks for Burns’ services, but Carolina said no. Additionally, when negotiating for the first-overall pick, the Panthers made it clear in no uncertain terms that Brian Burns would not be a part of any trade package.
Obviously, if the Panthers held on to Burns through all that, it’s clear that they want him to be around for the long haul. However, these rejections have a ripple effect, as now Burns knows that other teams are desperate to get him on their roster. Burns holds all the leverage here, as he knows that if Carolina doesn’t pay up, somebody else will. So, if Brian Burns is asking for a ridiculous sum of money, it’s not unreasonable to think that Carolina might change their mind and decide to trade the pass rusher to the highest bidder. As an added bonus, this would also help the team recoup some much-needed draft capital from their trade-up to the first-overall pick.
Possible Brian Burns Trade Destinations, Timeline
For the sake of argument, let’s assume that Brian Burns will not return to the Panthers without a new contract. If this is the case, it’s highly unlikely that the team deals him any time soon. Burns is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but Carolina could theoretically use the franchise tag to keep him in town for another two seasons. Additionally, the NFC South is probably going to be weak, and Carolina should be able to at least put up a fight in the division. As long as a playoff birth is somewhat realistic, the Panthers will not trade Brian Burns.
However, if the team crashes and burns early on AND contract talks go nowhere, Carolina will have to think about pulling the trigger at the trade deadline. It’s safe to assume that Burns’ will still be worth multiple first-round picks in a trade, and the Chicago Bears would probably be comfortable with paying this price. The team has plenty of picks and should be willing to part with a couple for Burns. If Justin Fields is good, then they won’t need to worry about trading up for a quarterback. If he’s not, then this team will probably be in a position to select his successor.
Depending on how things go with Chris Jones, the Kansas City Chiefs might also be interested in a Brian Burns trade. While Jones and Burns play different positions, both men excel at getting after the quarterback. Kansas City desperately needs another pass rusher, especially considering they never truly replaced Frank Clark. Pairing a proven pass rusher like Burns with a high-upside first-round pick in Felix Anudike-Uzomah could create a lethal duo that terrorizes opposing quarterbacks for the next decade.
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Main Photo: Bob Donnan – USA Today Sports
