Panthers insider reveals where Brian Burns stands on contract dispute

The Carolina Panthers have been lucky when it comes to their contract dispute with edge rusher Brian Burns. Not wanting to be a factor that holds the team back, Burns has been “holding in,” which means he’s participating in training camp but continuing to negotiate with the front office about his contract.

Speaking to Pat McAfee on Monday, Panthers insider Sheena Quick shared the latest between the two parties and revealed that she does believe Burns will end up with a new deal before the season.

“Brian Burns believes that they’re building something special here and he wants to be a part of it,” Quick said. “I don’t think that they’ll have to rely on the defense to carry them. I think they will (pay him). They’re waiting for Nick Bosa to sign and see if that market resets itself. I definitely think that the Panthers are gonna back the Brinks truck up for him.”

Burns is entering the final year of his rookie deal, which is worth $16 million for his fifth-year option.

Burns ‘holding in’ with Panthers

While others have held out for more money this offseason, like Cowboys RG Zack Martin, Burns didn’t want to miss team activities.

“Nah, I was going to show up,” Burns said last month. “I would say mainly just because I missed it. I missed being with my defense. I kind of feel like what we’ve got going is bigger than, I don’t want to say like it’s bigger than my individual goals, because those matter of course, but I feel like what we’ve got building is bigger than that.

“I feel like I’m a key piece to what we need to get done, so I feel like I need to be here, whether or not I’m going through negotiations or whatever. But nah, it didn’t cross my mind to sit out.”

Burns has displayed a supremely “team-first” mentality. The franchise originally selected Burns with the No. 16 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Florida State. He’s been everything they could have asked for ever since.

He ranks 11th in the league with 38 sacks since coming into the NFL. Additionally, Burns is coming off the best season of his career in 2022, finishing with career highs in tackles (63), tackles for loss (17), quarterback hits (22) and sacks (12.5). For his performance, he earned his second straight Pro Bowl nomination.

On3’s Nick Geddes contributed to this report.