The Carolina Panthers and Brian Burns appear to be on a collision course with the franchise tag. After spending the past few years in a continual state of rebuilding, Carolina has had multiple opportunities to trade Brian Burns in recent memory. The Los Angeles Rams were reportedly willing to give up two first-round picks for Burns at the 2022 trade deadline, but Carolina refused. Later on, the team decided to include D.J. Moore instead of Burns when they traded up for the first-overall pick.
These actions imply that the Carolina Panthers believe Burns is a cornerstone player, yet the two sides cannot agree to a long-term deal. With Brian Burns set to hit free agency, the Panthers will use the franchise tag to keep him away from the open market. However, Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer suggests that the Panthers might use the franchise tag as a way to trade Brian Burns, rather than come to terms on a long-term deal.
“I’d say [Bengals wide receiver Tee] Higgins and Burns could be tag-to-trade candidates. In Burns’s case, it’s because he and the Panthers haven’t been close on a long-term agreement over the last couple years.”
Breer: Panthers Could Tag and Trade Brian Burns
Losing a player as good as Brian Burns is never good, but a tag and trade makes a lot of sense for the Panthers. Carolina currently has $31 million in cap space and no first-round pick. If they use the franchise tag on Burns, they’ll lose $21.9 million in cap space. With all the needs on the offensive side of the ball, it doesn’t make sense for Carolina to invest this much in one defensive player.
Brian Burns can help a contender win football games, but he can’t catch passes for Bryce Young on the franchise tag. If the Panthers trade him for a first-round pick, they’d have the financial freedom to go after someone like Michael Pittman in free agency and could use the pick to shore up the offensive line. After Young’s struggles as a rookie, fixing the offense needs to be the top priority for this team
While Brian Burns might not be what the Panthers need right now, several teams should be willing to give up picks for him, even if he is on the franchise tag. In no particular order, these five teams could view him as the missing piece for a deep playoff run.
Best Trade Destinations
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have the offensive firepower required to win the Super Bowl. Now, they need to get the defensive pieces to slow down opposing passing attacks. Aidan Hutchinson is a phenomenal player, but this team needs another credible threat on the opposite side on the defensive line. Hutchinson and Brian Burns could be one of the most ferocious tag team duos in football, and that’s exactly what this team needs. With a late first-round pick and over $48 million in cap space, the Lions have the means to trade for Burns and sign him to a long-term deal.
Arizona Cardinals
If the Arizona Cardinals play their cards right, they could compete in 2024. The team hovered around .500 with a rusty Kyler Murray, and now they have a chance to add a superstar playmaker in Marvin Harrison Jr with the fourth-overall pick. Thanks to their 2023 draft trade with the Houston Texans, they also have the 27th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. While they could use that selection to add another young, unproven player, they could send it over to the Panthers for a proven commodity. Brian Burns probably wouldn’t play on the franchise tag, but if the Cardinals can work out a long-term deal, nothing is stopping this trade from happening.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens led the NFL in sacks last year. If they brought everyone back, they wouldn’t need Brian Burns. However, with Justin Madubuike, Jadeveon Clowney, and Kyle Van Noy set to hit free agency, this team could use some additional pass rushers. Clowney and Van Noy are no spring chickens, and while the team will probably use the franchise tag to keep Madubuike around, he and Brian Burns could form a lethal pass rushing duo for years to come. This isn’t the first time this trade has been proposed, and it might not be the last.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished dead last in sacks despite having a great pass rusher in Josh Allen. This is unacceptable and will need to change if Jacksonville wants to make it back to the playoffs in 2024. Trevor Lawrence can’t do it alone, and while he was historically unlucky last year, he’ll need a better defense if he wants to take this team on their first deep playoff run since the 2017 season.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals will be back in the playoffs with a healthy Joe Burrow, but they’ll need all the help they can get to stop the Kansas City Chiefs. Burrow is the only active quarterback to take down Mahomes in the postseason, but the defense will need to improve if he wants to join Tom Brady as the only person to beat him twice. Brian Burns is a perfect fit for this team, and the all-in Bengals should be more than willing to give up a first-round pick for the star pass rusher on the franchise tag.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
