Carolina Panthers free agent edge defender Brian Burns has long been regarded as a prime candidate to receive a franchise tag from the team. There are a few different tags the Panthers can use to retain Burns, and each has their own pros and cons.
Transition Tag
This is probably the least likely avenue the Panthers take. It’s rarely used in general, and it doesn’t seem prudent for the Panthers to use this tag on a big money position like outside linebacker. According to Over The Cap, the value of a transition tag for linebackers is a tick under $20 million.