On the opening day of free agency, the Carolina Panthers made headlines by trading their standout pass-rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants.
In exchange for Burns, the Panthers acquired a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick from the Giants. Burns, who was one of Carolina’s top performers last season, recorded eight sacks in 2023 and has a total of 46 sacks for the Panthers over his career.
The decision to trade Burns stemmed from the Panthers’ inability to reach a contract extension agreement with him, prompting them to place him on the Franchise Tag before executing the trade. This move elicited strong reactions from Panthers fans, including country music star Luke Combs, who expressed his dismay on social media, questioning the team’s strategy and recent decisions.
The Panthers’ trade of Burns comes amid a challenging period for the team, which has endured six consecutive losing seasons. With a league-worst 2-15 record last season and notable departures of star players, frustrations among fans have intensified, particularly directed at team owner David Tepper. As the Panthers gear up for the 2024 season, there’s mounting pressure on the organization to deliver improved results and restore faith among supporters.
