The Carolina Panthers have used the non-exclusive franchise tag on edge rusher Brian Burns, as they look to agree a long-term contract with their sack leader this offseason.
The Panthers saw contract negotiations with Burns, who was the 16th overall pick in the 2019 draft, break down ahead of the 2023 campaign.
According to a report from ESPN, Burns is seeking to become one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL with a deal which would see him receive in the region of $30million per season.
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Burns was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022 after managing a career-high 12.5 sacks, and though that figure dropped to eight as the Panthers went 2-15 in 2023, it was still a team-high tally.
On Tuesday, the Panthers confirmed they had placed the non-exclusive tag on Burns ahead of the deadline to do so, guaranteeing him $24m for the 2024 season.
Under the non-exclusive tag, Burns can talk to other franchises with a view to them agreeing a trade package with the Panthers, though his current team remain committed to keeping him.
Speaking at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last week, new general manager Dan Morgan said: “We love Brian. Brian’s a Panther, somebody that I know and that I’m close to.”
This is the first time Carolina have used the franchise tag since 2021, when they tied right tackle Taylor Moton down before agreeing a new long-term contract with him later that year.
#Panthers place franchise tag on Brian Burnshttps://t.co/jd6yJ877XT
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) March 5, 2024
