Brian Burns is one of the top free agents for the 2024 NFL season. The two-time Pro Bowler is coming off a season with 50 tackles, eight sacks, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. The year before, he had career highs of 63 tackles and 12.5 sacks.
Despite the lower production, he’s still one of the best linebackers in the game. At 25, his game still has a massive upside, which his team can develop. The Panthers tried to secure him with a contract extension to avoid him going to the market.
However, as shared by the JPAFootball account on X (formerly Twitter), contract negotiations between the two parties fell apart. According to an article by The Athletic’s Joseph Person, Burns wanted a contract that averaged $30 million annually.
Conversely, the Panthers would only go as high as $27 million annually. Agreeing to that value will make Burns the third-highest-paid edge rusher behind Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt.
#Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns was seeking $30 million per year in a contract extension from the team, per @josephperson
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) February 21, 2024
The Panthers were willing to go as high as five years at $27 million a year.
(H/T: @PanthersOnTap)
Read More Here: https://t.co/Gc3I7jBQlz pic.twitter.com/8N05PcQzgE
Burns’ camp has a reason for this valuation. During the 2022 trade deadline, the Panthers declined the Los Angeles Rams’ trade offer for Burns. If they accepted the deal, Carolina could have received two first-round picks and a second-rounder.
The Panthers can use the franchise tag on Burns, giving him a one-year guaranteed salary. Having him for one more season extends the contract negotiations between the team and Burns.
In five seasons with the Panthers, Brian Burns has 246 tackles, 46 sacks, 13 passes defended, eight forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown.
Meanwhile, Watt is the highest-paid outside linebacker, with an annual average salary of $28,002,750. Joey Bosa is second at exactly $27 million, while Rashan Gary is at $24 million.
-Lance Fernandez