Report: Panthers were willing to offer Brian Burns $27 million per year

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 01: Brian Burns #0 of the Carolina Panthers looks on prior to their game against the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of America Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Brian Burns and the Carolina Panthers reportedly were not close the last time they parted ways at the negotiating table. Well, now we might know how far apart they were.

Joe Person of The Athletic dove into the situation between the Panthers and their “free-agent” linebacker on Wednesday. He noted that there may have been a $3 million difference in annual value:

When Burns ended a two-day “hold in” before Week 1 last year, The Athletic reported he was seeking a deal with an annual average value of about $30 million. The Panthers were willing to go as high as five years at $27 million a year, according to a league source with knowledge of the contract talks.

That average of $27 million would’ve made the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher the third-highest paid player at his position. Burns would’ve pulled even with Los Angeles’ Joey Bosa while sitting behind only San Francisco’s Nick Bosa ($34 million) and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt ($28 million).

Now, it’s likely that the Panthers will use the franchise tag on Burns—which, per Over The Cap, is valued at nearly $23 million for linebackers in 2024. Carolina has until March 5 to make that decision.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Report: Panthers were willing to offer Brian Burns $27 million per year