The Carolina Panthers’ offseason moves last year backfired, including head coach Frank Reich being fired just weeks into the regular season and quarterback Bryce Young having one of the worst rookie seasons ever. As the 2024 offseason begins, Carolina could potentially part ways with one of its best players.
Carolina is not particularly well-positioned this offseason. After giving up its 2024 first-round pick as part of the trade-up to land Young, the Panthers will be without the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. To make matters worse, the team’s $28.6 million in cap space isn’t enough to overhaul the roster.
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It puts first-year general manager Dan Morgan in a difficult spot. With limited draft capital this offseason and sparse cap space, it appears the Panthers might have to trade one of their best players in order to recoup draft picks and make cap room.
Regarding potential 2024 offseason NFL trade candidates, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated named Panthers’ edge rusher Brian Burns as a candidate to be franchise-tagged and then traded.
As Breer points out, just placing the franchise tag on Burns will cost Carolina more than $20 million next season. Because the tag is fully guaranteed, all of it will count against the Panthers’ cap space which would leave the front office with very little to spend on the roster.
Burns and the Panthers’ organization have explored long-term deals in the past, but the two sides were never able to come close to an agreement. The Pro Bowl edge rusher’s name popped up in NFL trade rumors ahead of the 2023 in-season deadline, but Carolina refused to move him.
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There would be significant interest in Burns if he is tagged and put on the trade block. Two years ago, the Los Angeles Rams offered Carolina a pair of first-round picks for Burns, but the offer was declined. The Panthers also received offers for him during the 2023 season.
However, any return for Burns would be lessened because of the fully guaranteed franchise tag and the lack of long-term control. Any club acquiring him might also want to only make a deal if it is ensured he will sign an extension, with the cost of that contract meaning a lesser trade return for the Panthers. However, it might be Carolina’s only path to acquiring more draft capital in the 2024 NFL Draft.
