Report: Panthers prioritizing Bryce Young’s future as trade deadline nears

The Carolina Panthers spent a considerable amount of resources this year in trying to get right under center. But there’s still more work to do.

With the trade deadline approaching, Yahoo Sports senior NFL reporter Charles Robinson dished out a few new details about the “weird” Panthers—who he states are currently being viewed as both buyers and sellers by other teams. Robinson also had a note concerning two of the team’s top players—outside linebacker Brian Burns and quarterback Bryce Young:

As much as they’d like to keep pass rusher Brian Burns long term, sources familiar with team owner David Tepper have told Yahoo Sports that the priority in the organization in the near-term is to use assets to help fortify the future of quarterback Bryce Young. What they’d like to do is acquire a nice young offensive piece to help Young (preferably a skill position player). That is going to come with cost. And that cost is listening to offers on Burns, who will carry a significant $11 million in salary cap load to any team that acquires him, as well as necessitating a contract extension.

Robinson goes on to suggest that the Panthers could be looking for a “first round, plus” type of deal. That could net Carolina a first-round pick plus a nice young offensive piece or a first-round pick and additional high-end draft capital.

As of now, Burns and the organization still don’t seem too close on a contract extension. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re close to trading him either—it may just have to be at the right (and hefty) price.