If one thing about the status of outside linebacker Brian Burns seems certain, it’s that he’ll be under some type of tie to the Carolina Panthers in the next few weeks.
After opening up yesterday, the window to apply this year’s crop of franchise tag runs until March 5. So even if the Panthers and Burns are unable to finally reach a long-term deal, the organization can keep him around with the one-year designation.
But would he be a certainty to stay around if that remains the case into the regular season? Not necessarily.
Burns can always be traded while on the tag, a prospect that could be of interest to a rebuilding organization looking to restock its resources for the future. And if that’s a possibility, here are six potential tag-and-trade suitors for the 25-year-old pass rusher:
Baltimore Ravens
Highest 2024 draft pick: 30th overall (first round)
Baltimore has always been in the business of acquiring top-end talent, especially on defense. Heck, they were reportedly in the Burns business in the middle of this past season.
The Ravens, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, were one of a handful of teams that inquired on Burns at the trade deadline. Perhaps they’ll be even more interested after falling one step short of the Super Bowl, as the Kansas City Chiefs continue to claim supremacy in the AFC.
Detroit Lions
Highest 2024 draft pick: 29th overall (first round)
The NFC North champions were one normal second half of football away from becoming NFC champions, as they carried a 24-7 lead into the break of the conference title matchup. But that 17-point spread, which the San Francisco 49ers upended en route to the biggest halftime comeback in the game’s history, wasn’t enough.
Detroit may need one big push to get them over the top, and Burns is awfully good at pushing. Pairing the two-time Pro Bowler with their own pass-rushing stud in Aidan Hutchinson would give the Lions one of the league’s most formidable one-two punches off the edge.
Los Angeles Rams
Highest 2024 draft pick: 19th overall (first round)
When it comes to potential trade suitors for Burns, it always comes back to the Rams.
Los Angeles, in what now looks to be a questionable balk on Carolina’s part, reportedly offered a handful of high-end draft picks for the young defender back in 2022. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, a swap would’ve netted the Panthers two first-round picks and a 2023 second-rounder.
The return likely wouldn’t be as fruitful now, but the interest from the Rams—who are looking to knock off the division champion 49ers—should still remain.
Philadelphia Eagles
Highest 2024 draft pick: 22nd overall (first round)
After a very strong start to the campaign, the Eagles crumbled in their return bid for the Super Bowl. One of the handful of issues was their generous defense, which ranked in the bottom half of the league in sacks.
2022’s NFC title run saw Philadelphia lead the entire league in that all-important category with a whopping 70 quarterback takedowns. Burns would go a long way in getting back to that formula.
San Francisco 49ers
Highest 2024 draft pick: 31st overall (first round)
Since we alluded to them twice, it’s only right we throw the conference champs in here.
Before eventually trading for Washington’s Chase Young at the deadline, the 49ers were another one of the teams who reportedly reached out on Burns. And with Young now slated for free agency, there’s an open spot in the pass-rushing arsenal out west.
Could San Fran try to strike lightning off Carolina twice?
Seattle Seahawks
Highest 2024 draft pick: 16th overall (first round)
Former general manager Scott Fitterer didn’t get his “in on every deal” mentality out of nowhere.
Seattle may be the epitome of that now-infamous line, as they’re no strangers to pulling the trigger on eye-opening deals. It just so happens that they have a pretty good piece of draft capital, a pretty big need for a pass rusher and a new defensive-minded head coach who loves to bring the pressure.
Oh, and Carolina’s new regime probably has some contacts left in that building.
