The Carolina Panthers dealt top pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants on the first day of free agency.
The Panthers got a second-round and fifth-round pick in exchange. Burns was among Carolina’s top players in the previous campaign. In 2023, the 25-year-old recorded eight sacks. Burns totaled 46 sacks while playing for the Panthers.
But Burns and Carolina couldn’t come to an agreement on a contract extension, so before trading Burns, Carolina put him on the franchise tag.
The action infuriated fans of the Panthers, especially Luke Combs, a country music artist.
Combs posted on social media, asking, “What are we doing, Carolina Panthers?!” Burns is now without a first-round pick, and McCaffrey received one a couple years ago. Are we simply destroying the entire team with fire here, or what? Normally I wouldn’t talk about stuff like this, but right now it’s simply turning into gradual torment.”
The Panthers have had six straight losing campaigns. They finished with a league-worst 2-15 record the previous season. Star players have also left the team in their absence. The Panthers need to have a stronger 2024 season because owner David Tepper is facing growing resentment and unhappiness.
