new Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan has a major decision to make on Brian Burns ahead of the franchise tag deadline next month.

If Carolina opts against placing the tag on Burns, he’ll likely depart during NFL free agency. The two sides were unable to come to terms on a long-term contract ahead of last season. He was on the trade block ahead of the in-season trade deadine in November.

Taking part in his first NFL Combine, Morgan spoke to reporters on Tuesday about the Burns situation. He had very little to offer up outside of the likelihood of using the aforementioned tag.

“We would definitely use it if we had to use it, and you know, we love Brian,” Morgan said on Tuesday, via the Panthers’ official website. “Brian’s a Panther. Somebody that I know and that I’m close to, I played with his brother (Stanley McClover). So, I definitely love Brian. But all options are on the table for him.”

Carolina Panthers could franchise and trade

It’s an avenue other teams have used in the recent past. That is to say, placing the franchise tag on a player in order to keep him off the NFL free agent market.

The Green Bay Packers did that with Davante Adams ahead of the 2022 season before ultimately trading him to the Las Vegas Raiders. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are also considering the same thing with one of their star players.

According to this note from Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, that very same option is on the table for Carolina heading into March.

The franchise tag for edge rushers this season is expected to be roughly $24 million. Per Schultz, Burns is looking to demand $30 million per on a long-term deal.

• Brian Burns stats (2019-23): 95 QB hits, 59 tackles for loss, 49 sacks

Back in 2021 and 2022 with Carolina, Burns recorded a combined 21.5 sacks. He had just eight in 16 games this past season.

Fresh off a two-win season, Carolina’s first-round pick (No. 1 overall) is in the hands of the Chicago Bears. It makes perfect sense for the rebuilding team to recoup some draft assets rather than ponying up a long-term deal on Burns.