According to CBS Sports NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Carolina Panthers have informed linebacker Brian Burns that they won’t continue contract talks with him at this time.

Burns will be a free agent on March 13, the first day of the 2024 league year. He played the 2023 season under the Panthers’ fifth-year option, earning him a fully-guaranteed $16,012,000. Before that, Burns signed his four-year, $13.5 million contract after the Panthers selected him 16th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Since then, he has established himself among the best players at his position, earning consecutive Pro Bowl selections in 2021 and 2022. Despite playing the same number of games (16), his 2023 production dropped compared to his 2022 numbers.

The former Florida State standout had 63 tackles, 12.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble two years ago. Last year, he had 50 tackles and eight sacks. He has 246 tackles, 46 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and 13 pass deflections in 80 games.

There’s no word if the Panthers will use the franchise tag on Burns. Doing so may help retain him for one season while both parties negotiate the contract. However, they must do it before March 11 because teams can start negotiating with free agents by that day.

-Lance Fernandez