The Carolina Panthers are looking for a fresh start, but they do not appear to be in full fire-sale mode.
After firing head coach Matt Rhule and trading star running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers, the Panthers have decided not to trade pass rusher Brian Burns – despite one team offering two first-round picks for the 24-year-old, according to ESPN.
Burns, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Florida State, is in his fourth season with the Panthers. He earned his first Pro Bowl nod last year, which was his second straight with nine sacks. Burns entered Sunday with four sacks in six games in 2022.
During the offseason, the Panthers exercised the fifth-year option on Burns’ rookie contract, which is paying him $2.34 million this year. He’s set to make $16 million in 2023 and is “expected to land a massive extension this offseason,” per ESPN.
Carolina, which enters Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers at 1-5, has also told teams they won’t trade wide receiver DJ Moore, defensive tackle Derrick Brown or cornerback Jaycee Horn, ESPN reported. All three players are former first-round picks of the Panthers.
Brian Burns of the Panthers sacks Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on Oct. 2, 2022. Getty Images
Brian Burns during the Panthers’ game against the 49ers on Oct. 9, 2022. Getty ImagesThe team did, however, trade wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Cardinals last week after he was kicked out of a game against the Rams by his own coach, Steve Wilks. Panthers GM Scott Fitterer said the team isn’t tanking.
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 1.
