Bombshell report reveals how Panthers have botched Brian Burns situation

The Panthers painted themselves into a corner with edge-rusher Brian Burns. The only way out might be to pay him what he wants.

On Thursday, NFL insider Josina Anderson shared a league source's perspective on Carolina's situation with its first-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Earlier this week, the team applied the franchise tag to Burns, keeping him from hitting free agency. However, that's only a temporary fix. If Burns plays out the 2024 season on the tag, the two sides will be in the same position next year.

The preferable options for the two sides are a long-term extension or a trade to send Burns to a contender for draft picks. Per Anderson's source, that second option might be off the table.

"The Panthers should adapt better to present circumstances in order to potentially consummate a trade," the source told Anderson, explaining that Burns is less attractive in the trade market with the star edge-rusher needing a contract extension.

"It's a double whammy to pay huge for a player, and also give huge draft compensation to the other team for a deal," wrote Anderson. "... I've heard some league sources say third-round compensation is fair for Burns if the acquiring team is also giving him a long-term deal."

Keeping Burns in Carolina for the foreseeable future won't be cheap, but it appears to be the best path forward for the Panthers. Burns has the leverage in negotiations, particularly if his trade market is as dry as Anderson's source cautioned. If the front office's two options are to pay Burns as one of the league's top edge-rushers or receiver a third-round pick, it shouldn't be a tough call to make.

Of course, it didn't need to be this way. In 2022, the Rams offered the Panthers two first-round picks for Burns. A deal like that isn't coming back around. 

Anderson's source said, "The time to get more draft picks was when the player has years left on their deal; but if the player is in their last year — the other team has to be prepared to keep the player, or take less."