CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers on Monday placed the franchise tag on edge rusher Brian Burns that guarantees their sack leader $24 million this season, a source told ESPN.
The move was expected after negotiations, including a meeting with his agent last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, for a long-term deal stalled.
"We love Brian,'' new general manager Dan Morgan said at the combine. "Brian's a Panther, somebody that I know and that I'm close to.''
Burns is the first player the Panthers have used the tag on since 2021 when they put it on right tackle Taylor Moton, who signed a four-year, $72 million deal before the season began.