Rams on blockbuster trade to sign Brian Burns of panthers for the position.
An NFL insider estimates how much the Los Angeles Rams could have to pay to acquire Brian Burns.
Les Snead, general manager of the Los Angeles Rams, has been pursuing Brian Burns, an edge rusher for the Carolina Panthers, for years. The Pro Bowl pass rusher has been linked to the Rams in numerous NFL trade speculations. Even though Carolina kept him from becoming an NFL free agent, it may still need to deal him this offseason.
Burns, who will be 26 this season, has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice. The former Florida State player was selected with the 16th overall choice in the 2019 NFL Draft and is now regarded as one of the NFC’s top pass rushers. The Rams have also been keeping a close eye on him for some time.
Los Angeles reportedly offered Carolina first-round selections in 2024 and 2025 in addition to a 2025 second-round pick in exchange for Burns prior to the NFL trade deadline in 2022. The Rams’ Super Bowl window was rumored to be narrowing, thus the offer was well-received throughout the league; however, Carolina turned it down.
Career stats for Brian Burns: 46 sacks, 59 tackles for loss, and 95 quarterback hits in 80 games
Over the course of the following year or so, the Panthers had further queries about Burns, but they never became serious about making a deal. Although Carolina has long desired to retain its own players, a long-term agreement between the two parties has never been reached. Trade whispers have now resurfaced following his franchise tag, with a growing idea that he could be sold.
Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports that NFL sources feel a third-round pick would be “fair” remuneration for the Rams in return for Burns, provided there are no guarantees of a contract extension. Most likely, the pick would come from the NFL Draft in 2024.
Carolina found itself in a position where it had little power. Burns is due a fully guaranteed salary of $24.007 million for the following season; nevertheless, he will not become a free agency. The Panthers may go through this procedure with him one more in 2025, but the guaranteed pay would increase by 120 percent if the franchise tag was used the following season.
Los Angeles undoubtedly escaped a bullet when Carolina turned down their 2024 offer. Snead and the Rams front office are still very interested almost two years later. The club will need to part with somewhat less money this time around in order to acquire him. That is the only difference.
The Rams would have until July’s franchise-tagged player contract extension deadline to come make a decision if they were to sign Burns. If not, the Panthers would have to go through the same procedure the next season.
