Brian Burns

Brian Burns Still Aiming To Be Paid Like Top-Tier Edge Rusher

January 8th, 2024 at 1:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Burns did not receive an invite to another Pro Bowl and saw his sack count drop noticeably from the 2022 season, but the Panthers are still believed to have the free agent-to-be in their plans. Carolina’s recent history with Burns still gives him leverage, and he intends to use it.

The Panthers are expected to apply the franchise tag on Burns, but potential negotiations may be complicated now. The GM that had run the negotiations since Burns became extension-eligible, Scott Fitterer, received his walking papers Monday morning. A new staff will assess Burns’ value, but he has not changed his stance since the Panthers’ summer negotiations fizzled.

The Ron Rivera-era first-round pick said Monday (via ESPN’s David Newton) he is still aiming to be paid among the highest-earning edge defenders. Burns’ lofty ask this offseason was believed to have checked in around $30MM per year. That proved too much for Fitterer’s liking, but his decision-making gave Burns tremendous leverage.

Fitterer famously turned down a Rams offer that included two first-round picks and a third for Burns, and the since-fired GM also refused to include Burns in trade talks with the Bears for the No. 1 pick last March. With Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-per-year extension changing the edge market, the Panthers were unable to hammer out a deal. Fitterer also balked at trade overtures this year.

With the Panthers using a 3-4 base defense in recent years, Burns may soon find himself in the linebacker/defensive end debate the NFL’s outdated franchise tag formula often presents edge rushers. The linebacker tag is expected to come in around $18.5MM in 2024, the D-end tag around $20.1MM. That has spurred grievances in recent years, but Burns’ salary ask will be the headline item here.

Bosa’s re-up changed the game for edge rushers, and it should be expected to produce more movement on that market this coming offseason. Prior to Bosa’s monster 49ers contract, T.J. Watt‘s $28MM-AAV deal topped the edge defender list for two years. Burns, who has just one season with double-digit sacks, has not proven himself to be in that class of pass rusher. He finished with eight sacks this season; that total is only the fourth-best of his career. Burns’ 46 career sacks rank 12th in the NFL since 2019.

The Panthers’ defense fared far better than the team’s disjointed offense, however, and Burns held up for 16 games. He should be in position to command a big-ticket deal, but with the Panthers having the tag to keep the Florida State alum off the market, it would not surprise if the sides’ stalemate continues — unless Burns drops his asking price — into the summer. While Burns wants to stay with the Panthers, this situation could be complicated for a while.

Brian Burns Wants To Remain With Panthers

December 27th, 2023 at 4:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

The top offseason priority for the Panthers will be working out a contract with edge rusher Brian Burns. No new progress on that front will take place until after the 2023 campaign has ended, but there is a mutual interest in reaching an agreement.

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Burns stated his desire to remain in Carolina in 2024 and beyond (video link via ESPN’s David Newton). The two-time Pro Bowler is playing on his $16MM fifth-year option this season, but his future is uncertain due to the lack of progress on negotiations for what will be a lucrative long-term extension.

The Panthers have turned down trade offers on several occasions, including the 2023 deadline when multiple teams inquired about his availability. Despite making it clear the former first-rounder was not on the market, Carolina was not able to gain much traction during offseason negotiations. After this year’s trade deadline passed, a new round of talks did not take place.

As a result, the franchise tag looms as a backup option for the team if no multi-year deal can be worked out. As things stand, the one-year tag is the likeliest course of action, and using it as at least a placeholder would come as no surprise given the alternative of allowing Burns to depart in free agency. The 25-year-old has developed into a cornerstone for the rebuilding franchise, recording at least nine sacks each season from 2020-22.

Burns’ sack total this year (six) represents a step back, but the team has dealt with a number of injuries along the edge amidst its overall struggles. As he noted today, however, his preference would be to avoid needing to start a new chapter of his career in a new environment. It will be interesting to see how much that mutual interest in striking a deal will result in progress on contract talks in the near future.

The Florida State alum has been attached to an asking price near the record-setting $34MM AAV Nick Bosa got on his 2023 49ers extension. The Panthers, by contrast, have eyed a package closer to the back end of the top 10 in terms of annual compensation amongst edge rushers. The position Burns is classified as (defensive end vs. outside linebacker) in the event he receives the franchise tag could also become a sticking point, given the projected $3MM difference in value between the two.

Negotiations with Burns will be a major storyline for Carolina after a disappointing season which resulted in a coaching change. The degree to which his stated desire to remain with the Panthers holds true will be worth watching closely when talks resume.

Panthers Expected To Use Franchise Tag On Brian Burns

November 16th, 2023 at 10:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers still have time to work out a deal with edge rusher Brian Burns, but signficant progress would need to be made for such a development to take place. A trip to free agency should not be expected in his case, though.

Burns is playing out his fifth-year option in 2023, valued at $16MM. A long-term deal will check in at a much larger figure than that, and a lucrative extension has been on Carolina’s radar for some time now. Little traction was gained this offseason, however, leaving the franchise tag as the logical backup plan for the Panthers. That is the course of action the team is expected to take at this point, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes.

This latest update comes as little surprise given where things currently stand. A recent report named Burns as an obvious tag candidate in the event a multi-year contract could not be worked out, and the 25-year-old has established himself as a franchise cornerstone. Carolina has turned down signficant trade interest in each of the past two seasons to retain Burns, demonstrating the team’s commitment to him in spite of his uncertain contractual future.

The two-time Pro Bowler is believed to be seeking a much higher AAV on a new deal than what the Panthers value him at. As a result, negotiations have been put on pause since the start of the season, and the passing of the trade deadline (during which at least five teams made a push to acquire him) has not spurred a new round of talks. Barring a signficant breakthrough, then, the one-year tag could loom as Carolina’s only option.

The 2024 tag for defensive ends – which Burns lined up as during the start of his career – will cost a projected $20.4MM. The tag for linebackers – which Burns would be listed as given the team’s switch to a 3-4 scheme this year – is scheduled to cost roughly $3MM less. It would be interesting to see if a compromise could be worked out between the two figures, though in any event a new contract would check in at a significantly higher rate given the upward trajectory of the edge market in recent years.

Nick Bosa‘s historic 49ers deal placed him at the top of the pecking order with an AAV of $34MM. While Burns has been connected to an asking price near that level, the Panthers are aiming closer to the $23.5MM mark Maxx Crosby is currently tied to. A pair of recent deals (Rashan Gary with the Packers, and Montez Sweat shortly upon arrival with the Bears) have been inked just above that rate. Carolina showed interest in the latter despite the fact he, like Burns, was set to see his rookie contract expire in March.

With Sweat now in Chicago for the long term, the Panthers can keep their attention on a new deal for Burns (and, potentially, a much more cost-effective contract for fellow pending free agent Yetur Gross-Matos). Carolina is currently slated to sit mid-pack in terms of 2024 cap space, but plenty of financial moves will be made between now and the new league year. By that point, Burns can be expected to at least have a placeholder contract in hand.

Panthers Pursued WRs Davante Adams And Tee Higgins, DE Montez Sweat At Deadline

November 12th, 2023 at 9:25pm CST by Rory Parks

Despite a win-loss record that placed them squarely in the “sellers” category, we heard in the run-up to last month’s trade deadline that the Panthers were operating as both buyers and sellers. We also heard that Carolina was especially interested in acquiring a top-flight wide receiver, and to that end, David Newton of ESPN.com reports that the team pursued both the Raiders’ Davante Adams and the Bengals’ Tee Higgins, though neither club was willing to make a deal. Newton adds that GM Scott Fitterer also tried to acquire DE Montez Sweat, whom the Commanders ultimately traded to the Bears.

The early struggles of rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, have created plenty of concern among the Panthers’ fanbase, especially since No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud is playing at a high level for the Texans and since Carolina paid such a premium for the privilege to climb up the draft board to select Young. However, Newton writes that head coach Frank Reich and general manager Scott Fitterer still believe their plan to trade high-end draft capital — including their 2024 first-round pick — and top receiver D.J. Moore was a sound one that will pay dividends in the future. Likewise, Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) says that the organization is still unified in the belief that Young is the long-term answer at quarterback.

In order to get the most out of Young, the Panthers understand that they need to give him more playmakers, which is why they pursued Adams and Higgins (they were not alone in that regard, as the Jets made a play for both receivers as well). Adams’ career accomplishments, which include six Pro Bowl nods and three First Team All-Pro selections, dwarf those of Higgins, who has not yet made a Pro Bowl. Nonetheless, Higgins is six years younger than Adams, is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, and clearly has WR1 upside.

While Adams is under club control through 2026, Higgins is due to be a free agent at season’s end. If they had acquired the Clemson product, the Panthers would have needed to sign him to an extension or put the franchise tag on him, so his contract situation would have been a priority agenda item alongside a new deal (or franchise tag) for edge rusher Brian Burns. According to Newton, Carolina retained Burns through a second consecutive deadline in which he generated plenty of trade interest because the team views him and Young as foundational pieces of a future contender. Though the Panthers are presently without a 2024 first-rounder, they do have $42MM in projected cap space next season along with six other draft picks, and the plan is to turn those assets into talent to complement Burns and Young.

The latest reporting on the matter suggests that Burns and the Panthers are not actively engaged in contract talks, and Newton confirms prior reports that the two sides were far apart when negotiations stopped in December. If player and team cannot come to terms, Burns will be hit with the franchise tag, according to Newton.

If Fitterer were successful in his pursuit of Sweat, he certainly would have had a dynamic pair of pass rushers to headline his defense. However, Sweat was also in a contract year at the time of his trade and signed a lucrative extension shortly after arriving in Chicago, so the Panthers would have needed to authorize a similar contract for Sweat or quickly close the gap with Burns in order to assure themselves of the chance to retain both players.

As it stands, Fitterer & Co. will be able to focus most of their early offseason efforts on Burns’ new deal — if Fitterer is still around, that is. Per Russini, there are some members of the organization that believe the roster has not been assembled correctly, and owner David Tepper is frustrated by a Reich-orchestrated offense that league sources have described as “boring,” “predictable,” and “lifeless.” Reich, of course, was hired by Fitterer, and Russini says the “message in the building” is that ownership needs to see offensive improvement in the second half of the season.

If that does not happen, then Russini expects changes to be made. It is unclear if that simply means a shake-up to Reich’s offensive staff, or if Reich himself could be in jeopardy. It is fair to wonder whether Fitterer might also be on the hot seat, though ownership apparently is satisfied with how the defense and special teams units are performing.

Panthers Activate LB Marquis Haynes

November 9th, 2023 at 3:49pm CST by Ben Levine

NOVEMBER 9: Haynes will move back onto Carolina’s 53-man roster. The Panthers activated the rotational pass rusher ahead of Thursday’s Bears matchup. Unlike the Bears, whose Josh Blackwell and Equanimeous St. Brown activations have moved them down to one such move remaining, the Panthers have only used two IR activations this season.

NOVEMBER 6: The Panthers should soon be getting some much-needed depth at linebacker. The team announced that linebacker Marquis Haynes returned to practice and has been designated to return from injured reserve.

The Panthers now have 21 days to activate Haynes to the active roster. It’s uncertain if the sixth-year player will be able to return in time for Thursday Night Football against the Bears.

Haynes missed most of training camp and the preseason while dealing with a lingering back injury. While he was able to briefly return to practice, the linebacker ended up landing on injured reserve following final roster cuts. Haynes obviously required more than the four-week minimum to return, with his absence ultimately lasting more than two months.

The former fourth-round pick has turned into a dependable pass-rushing option for the Panthers. While he’s only started one of his 64 career appearances, he still appeared in more than a third of his team’s defensive snaps between 2020 and 2022. Over this span, Haynes has collected 12 sacks, including a 2022 campaign where he finished with a career-high five sacks to go along with a career-high 13 QB hits.

The Panthers are probably hoping Haynes can join the active roster sooner than later. The team recently placed Justin Houston on injured reserve, and head coach Frank Reich revealed today that Brian Burns will likely miss Week 10 while dealing with a concussion (via Joe Person of The Athletic). Luiji Vilain also suffered a knee injury in Week 9, leaving the team with three linebackers in DJ Johnson, Amaré Barno, and practice-squad player Eku Leota to finish yesterday’s loss to the Colts.

Multiple Teams Contacted Panthers About Brian Burns Trade

November 4th, 2023 at 10:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

Two major trades involving edge rushers took place this week, but Brian Burns was not moved. That comes as little surprise given the Panthers’ stance leading up to the deadline, but it was not for a lack of interest shown from numerous suitors.

At least five teams were known to be in on Burns, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The list includes both the Bears and 49ers, the clubs which landed high-profile acquisitions in deals with the Commanders. Chicago added (and has since extended) Montez Sweat, while San Francisco bolstered its already impressive defensive line by bringing in Chase Young. With Burns joining that pair as one of the top prizes available amongst edge rushers, both the Bears and 49ers represent logical suitors for the Panthers to have held talks with on a potential deal.

Interest was also shown by the Jaguars, Falcons and Ravens, Schefter adds. Jacksonville was named as a team to watch on the edge front, with a recent report indicating they nearly finalized an offseason deal for Vikings sack artist Danielle Hunter. Despite leading the league in sacks, Baltimore engaged in trade talks about Young, so it comes as no surprise the team also kicked the tires on a potential Burns swap. Atlanta, meanwhile, made a number of changes on defense this offseason, but added production on the edge would have been welcomed (although an intra-divisional trade involving a player at such a premium position in his prime would have no doubt been difficult to pull off).

Of course, the Panthers are no strangers to receiving strong interest in a Burns acquisition. The Rams submitted an offer including two first-round picks last year, and the Bears attempted to include the two-time Pro Bowler in the trade involving the draft’s No. 1 pick. In both instances, Carolina held firm in its commitment to keeping Burns, something which remained in place this year as well.

The 25-year-old has been highly productive during his time with the Panthers, including five sacks in seven games this season. That has helped his market value on a new contract, something which is not close to being worked out. Burns acknowledged before the deadline that talks on an extension are not ongoing, and it remains to be seen when they will resume. A gap in annual value exists between Burns’ camp and the team on what will, in any event, be a massive raise for the Florida State product .

With the franchise tag (projected to check in at $17.4MM if he is classified as a linebacker, or $20.4MM as a defensive end) looming in case no long-term deal is reached, Burns will be counted on as the anchor of Carolina’s edge rush group to close out the season. That is especially true with Justin Houston joining Yetur Gross-Matos on injured reserve. With Carolina still planning to keep Burns in place for the foreseeable future, it will be interesting to see how his situation unfolds in the coming months.

Brian Burns Confirms No Panthers Extension Talks Ongoing

October 30th, 2023 at 3:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Plenty have pointed to the Panthers as potential sellers ahead of tomorrow’s trade deadline, and a move involving Brian Burns would represent the most impactful one possible. While that does not appear likely, an agreement between team and player on a new contract is not on the horizon either.

The Pro Bowl edge rusher confirmed on Monday (via ESPN’s David Newton) that negotiations on an extension are still on hold. That has been the case since September, despite efforts on both sides during the offseason to gain traction on a long-term deal. As indicated by Burns himself and numerous reports, the Panthers have not come particularly close to hammering out an extension.

Burns is playing on the $16MM fifth-year option this season, and a wide gap still remains on the matter of compensation in his case. Mutual interest still exists to come to terms, but the threat of a franchise tag or a free agent departure has increasingly fueled speculation a trade could be coming. Burns was the target of a massive Rams proposal (one including two first-round picks) last year, but Carolina made it clear then, and in the spring trade which saw them acquire the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, that Burns was untouchable.

The Florida State alum added that no new negotiations will take place “until it makes sense” to re-start them. The edge market has seen upward mobility recently, with Nick Bosa‘s record-breaking 49ers deal setting a new benchmark at the position That $34MM-per-year pact has been named as a target for Burns, while the Panthers are believed to be aiming closer to back end of the top 10 with respect to AAV (which would land him closer to the Rashan Gary Packers extension agreed to today).

Burns, 25, would carry signficant value for any acquiring team’s long-term future. Given the need for an extension to be worked out upon trading for him, though, it comes as no surprise that interest on that front has been relatively muted despite calls coming in. Continuing to anchor Carolina’s pass rush, Burns has posted five sacks in seven games this year, giving him 43 total in 71 games.

Of course, the Panthers could be persuaded to move on from the likes of wideout Terrace Marshall, cornerback Donte Jackson and safety/linebacker Jeremy Chinn. Those will remain names to watch in the immediate future, but even in the expected event Burns remains in Charlotte past tomorrow afternoon, his long-term status will still be in doubt.

Panthers Unlikely To Trade Brian Burns; Eagles Looked Into Jeremy Chinn

October 27th, 2023 at 8:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

In a strange position of being 0-6 and looking to add a wide receiver, the Panthers possess one of this year’s top trade pieces. Brian Burns continues to be mentioned in trades, with the parties’ failed summer negotiations playing a role in the edge rusher’s cloudy Carolina future.

The Panthers, however, are open to revisiting extension talks with Burns in-season. That may be leading to the chatter the fifth-year defender is more likely to stay. After a report earlier this week indicated the Panthers were informing teams they are not putting Burns on the table, The Athletic’s Joe Person indicates (subscription required) the expectation is Carolina’s top sack artist is not expected to be dealt.

Given what the Panthers rejected for Burns at multiple points over the past year, committing to hammering out an extension would make sense. The team turned down a Rams offer of two first-rounders last year. Los Angeles not having a 2023 first-round pick played into Carolina’s decision to pass there, but Burns — who is now in a contract year, being tied to a $16MM fifth-year option salary — will almost definitely not generate that kind of offer before this year’s Tuesday deadline. Carolina also refused to include Burns in its March trade with Chicago, which led to the Bears insisting D.J. Moore be part of the package that netted the Panthers the No. 1 overall pick.

Those organizational decisions have likely emboldened Burns on the extension front, and Nick Bosa raising the defensive salary ceiling to $34MM per year undoubtedly impacted the Panthers’ negotiations as well. While Burns was previously believed to be in line for a deal that placed him in the top five among edge rushers — more likely at the bottom of that list, around Maxx Crosby‘s $23.5MM-per-year extension — Bosa’s agreement and the salary cap’s rise have likely led Burns’ camp to push for more.

If Carolina commits to revisiting the extension talks, the team will have a 2024 franchise tag in its back pocket. Using a base 3-4 defense, the Panthers would be in line to attempt to save some money on a Burns tag. Even though he functions primarily as an edge rusher, teams have successfully classified 3-4 OLBs as linebackers — rather than defensive ends — under a tag formula that still groups all linebackers together while separating defensive ends. Recent precedent favored the teams here.

In 2020, 3-4 OLBs Shaquil Barrett, Bud Dupree and Matt Judon were each tagged as linebackers. Though, the Ravens and Judon agreed to a compromise that upped the edge defender’s tender number that year. OverTheCap projects the 2024 linebacker tag to check in at $17.42MM and the D-end tag to be $21.64MM. This could be a negotiating tool for the Panthers, should they decide to continue down the road with Burns rather than trade him by Tuesday.

Additionally, the Panthers are still open to trading Jeremy Chinn, Donte Jackson and Terrace Marshall. This has been the case for a bit now, and Marshall requested to be moved. The Eagles made a splashy safety trade this week, landing All-Pro Kevin Byard from the Titans. Prior to the Byard deal being completed, Person adds Philadelphia pursued Chinn.

However, the contract-year DB suffered a quad injury that led him to IR. The Eagles were close to drafting Chinn in the 2020 second round, ultimately deciding to take Jalen Hurts instead despite rostering Carson Wentz at the time. That decision changed the direction of the franchise. While Chinn has excelled at points for the Panthers, he had seen his snaps reduced in Ejiro Evero‘s system prior to the injury. The Panthers should still be expected to be thrown into trade rumors before the 3pm Tuesday deadline, but Chinn is now likely to close out his contract year in Charlotte.

Trade Rumors: Rams, Burns, Panthers, Browns, Saints, Bucs

October 25th, 2023 at 2:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier this month, Sean McVay pushed back on the notion the Rams would be active buyers. This has been the NFL’s preeminent buyer in recent years, with the McVay seasons involving the Rams trading for Von Miller, Jalen Ramsey, Austin Corbett and Dante Fowler. While Los Angeles probably is not preparing any two-first-rounder offers this season (after the Panthers turned down that monster proposal for Brian Burns in 2022), Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson notes the Rams are “definitely” looking around for potential help.

With the Rams trading Ramsey and gutting their defense, they were more likely to be sellers at the deadline. But the team is 3-4, after a controversial loss to the Steelers, and has not looked like a club going through a rebuild. Each of L.A.’s losses has come by 10 points or less. The Rams should not be ruled out from asking about Burns again, per Robinson, with the price likely not at two first-rounders again. It would still surprise if the Rams parted with a first-round pick for Burns, seeing as they finally are set to enter a draft with a Round 1 pick. L.A. has not made a first-round pick since Jared Goff in 2016.

With the deadline at 3pm on Oct. 31, here is the latest from the trade front:

The Panthers have received calls on Burns, but the interest does not seem to be where it was a year ago. The fifth-year pass rusher is in line for a high-end extension, which will affect his trade price tag. Carolina may now be showing the same resistance it did at the 2022 deadline, with ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano noting the team is informing others Burns is not available. A recent report suggested the value gap between Burns and the Panthers could lead to the team reopening the door on a trade, and a new defensive staff is in place. Then again, Burns has played for five HCs (counting the two interim bosses) and has continued to produce.
Sitting at 4-2 after two close wins, the Browns have gotten here despite Deshaun Watson‘s nagging shoulder injury. They have been linked to being both buyers and sellers, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who notes the team is believed to be interested in adding a wide receiver and an offensive lineman (subscription required). Cleveland was fairly aggressive on the receiver front this offseason, trading for Elijah Moore, drafting Cedric Tillman in Round 3 and signing Marquise Goodwin. Contract-year target Donovan Peoples-Jones has disappointed, however, sitting on 97 receiving yards in six games. Only Amari Cooper resides as a particularly imposing threat. Up front, the Browns lost right tackle Jack Conklin for the season. Joel Bitonio also missed a game for the first time in seven years, though the All-Pro guard returned for Week 7.
Also in the mix for a potential receiver add: the Saints. New Orleans is monitoring the wideout market, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler writes. The Saints have seen Michael Thomas stay on the field for an extended stretch for the first time since 2019, and Rashid Shaheed has taken steps in his second season. No. 1 target Chris Olave has not yet built on his rookie-year showing, but he is still on pace for a 1,000-yard season. This trio’s presence makes New Orleans’ prospective receiver push a bit interesting. Hunter Renfrow would come to mind as an obvious fit, given his production with Derek Carr in the past. The Raiders are open to moving the $16MM-per-year slot, who has fallen out of favor in Josh McDaniels‘ offense. While it does not seem like it would take much to land Renfrow, the Raiders are also not eager to eat any of the fifth-year target’s prorated $10.82MM salary.
The Buccaneers should be expected to look into adding a running back before the deadline, Graziano adds. While Tampa Bay was linked to an outside RB pursuit this offseason, the team stood down. Its recommitment to Rachaad White has produced a negligible improvement. After a last-place 2022 rushing ranking, Tampa Bay sits 29th entering Week 8.

Latest On Panthers, Brian Burns; Team Still Interested In Adding WR

October 25th, 2023 at 10:18am CST by Sam Robinson

Leading up to the 2022 trade deadline, the Panthers received a monster offer for Brian Burns. Clinging to their all-in period, the Rams offered two first-rounders and a third for the ascending edge rusher. With neither of those firsts coming in 2023, the Panthers turned down the proposal and committed to hammering out an extension.

Despite extensive talks this offseason, no Burns extension is in place. The Panthers have the 2019 first-round pick tied to a $16MM fifth-year option salary and will have the franchise tag at their disposal next year. Burns’ status with Carolina beyond this season is in doubt, however, and trade rumors are following the Pro Bowl edge once again.

The lack of progress between Burns and the Panthers could lead to a trade, and GM Scott Fitterer is believed to have taken calls on the team’s top pass rusher. Those inquiries do not look to have produced an offer anywhere close to what the Rams proposed last year, with ESPN.com’s David Newton noting Burns interest has been somewhat scarce this time around.

The Panthers do not want to deal Burns, and Newton adds a first-round pick would be required for the team to move on. The Rams’ offer may end up becoming a significant “what if?” in recent Panthers history, especially if the organization moves on before the Oct. 31 deadline for a lesser package. But hurdles exist on the way to an extension agreement.

Both sides want to come to terms on an extension, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, but enough of a gap exists here to cause legitimate concern no deal will come to pass. If the prospects of a re-up are bleak enough, the Panthers may consider reversing course and moving on from Burns. The Ron Rivera-era investment has continued his pace this season, notching four sacks and posting nine QB hits in six games.

Burns, 25, and the Panthers began negotiations back in June. Even that appeared a bit late, considering the Florida State alum became extension-eligible in January 2022. A deal near the Bradley Chubb–Maxx Crosby level ($22-$24MM) was viewed as a potential Burns sweet spot, but these negotiations had not progressed by training camp. Burns initially said he did not want to miss any time due to his contract, but be backtracked by staging an unusual hold-in effort after he had already begun practicing. But Burns’ 11th-hour move did not produce a deal. The Panthers are open to negotiating in-season, though Burns confirmed the talks never came close to producing a deal before Week 1.

In addition to wielding the leverage that came from the Panthers turning down the Rams’ monster offer, Burns’ camp also could use the fact he was kept out of the Bears trade this March. Chicago brought up Burns and Derrick Brown, but Fitterer successfully kept both rookie-contract pass rushers out of the deal. This led to D.J. Moore‘s inclusion. While the Panthers made an effective commitment to Burns by turning down trade overtures in October 2022 and this past March, that could prove costly from a financial standpoint — especially with Nick Bosa boosting the edge defender market in September.

Bosa’s new deal came in a whopping $6MM north of T.J. Watt‘s previous edge-record AAV ($28MM). With Bosa at $34MM per year, it is logical to expect Burns’ asking price to have gone up. With the NFL’s third- and fourth-highest-paid edges — Joey Bosa ($27MM per year) and Myles Garrett ($25MM) — more accomplished than Burns, Carolina’s hesitancy is also understandable. The sides do not have to reach an agreement by the trade deadline, though that would provide some finality. But if no confidence exists the parties will come to terms in the future, Burns would be one of this year’s top trade pieces available.

Additionally, the Panthers are still believed to be targeting a wide receiver. They make for perhaps the league’s strangest buyer, being the only winless team remaining, but La Canfora adds the team continues to eye weaponry. The Panthers have not seen much from their non-Adam Thielen wing of targets, and with Bryce Young also offering an inconsistent start, it is logical for the team to be looking around for help.

The Panthers are open to moving Terrace Marshall, and while their prime window to augment their receiving corps may come next year, the previously rumored receiver interest persists days ahead of the deadline. Marshall said (via The Athletic’s Joe Person) his role decrease has impacted the recent trade request.

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