So, what will a 25-year-old two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher looking for a new contract get you nowadays? Well, for the Carolina Panthers, it’ll get you a lot less than what you could’ve had about 16 months ago.
On Monday, the Panthers bit the bullet and traded outside linebacker Brian Burns to the New York Giants. Being that Carolina wasn’t willing to meet the standout defender on his price, they found a team who did—and got the following in return:
- 2024 second-round pick (39th overall)
- 2025 fifth-round pick
The two sides also included a pick swap of 2024 fifth-rounders. Carolina is getting the 141st overall selection and sending New York the 166th overall selection.
That, obviously, is a far cry from what the Panthers were offered for Burns during the 2022 campaign. Multiple reports have suggested that the Los Angeles Rams were prepared to part with two first-rounders and a second-rounder for the then-fourth-year backer.
Unfortunately, yesterday’s price is not today’s price.
In a less direct detail of the trade, the Panthers cleared out a smidgeon over $24 million in salary cap space—the amount Burns was slated to receive on the franchise tag in 2024.
