The Lions acquire a standout edge rusher in a proposed blockbuster deal involving the ‘tag-to-trade’ mechanism.
To contend for a championship next year, the Detroit Lions are likely in need of adding a pass rusher to their roster, according to a suggestion by Fansided’s Brad Berreman. He proposed considering all options, including a potential unconventional trade with the Carolina Panthers for edge rusher Brian Burns.
Berreman recommended that the Lions pursue a trade for Burns after the Panthers apply the franchise tag to him this offseason. While ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on November 4 that the Panthers rejected trade offers for Burns, Berreman argued that if Carolina starts entertaining offers, the Lions should be willing to part with their No. 29 overall pick for Burns.
The proposal is based on the idea that the Panthers tagging and trading Burns might attract more teams, potentially offering him as a one-year rental. The Lions, equipped with significant cap space, could easily part with their late-first-round pick to secure Burns, making him the focal point for an edge rusher acquisition.
This idea gained traction after Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentioned Burns as a potential “tag-to-trade candidate” on February 14. The Athletic’s Randy Mueller later identified Burns as the top available edge rusher in NFL free agency on February 19.
Despite ranking second in available edge rushers by Pro Football Focus, USA Today, and Pro Football Network, Burns is highly regarded for his age, athleticism, and all-around game. Mueller prefers Burns over others due to his potential for higher-volume production, despite limited statistics caused by the Panthers’ defensive scheme.
Burns, turning 26 in April, didn’t make the Pro Bowl in 2023, but he recorded 8 sacks with 16 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback hits. He has consistently posted at least 7.5 sacks in each of his first five NFL seasons, with a standout performance of 12.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 22 quarterback hits in 2022.
Pairing Burns with Aidan Hutchinson could create an elite pass-rushing duo, potentially transforming the Lions’ defensive weaknesses into strengths. In 2023, the Lions led the NFL in pressure rate but ranked 23rd in sacks, highlighting the need for a complementary edge rusher.
Despite the potential cost of acquiring Burns and his subsequent contract, projected to be nearly $109 million on a 5-year deal, the move could address the Lions’ goal of finding a quality edge rusher to complement Hutchinson.
