Just about a year ago, the struggling Carolina Panthers traded their best offensive player, running back Christian McCaffrey, to San Francisco in an effort to rebuild a franchise that wasn’t going anywhere. McCaffrey was dynamic for Carolina when he wasn’t injured but through 2020 and ’21, he played in just 10 games.
Last season, McCaffrey got off to a strong start and after six games, the Panthers seized the opportunity to get as much value as possible in trading him to San Francisco. In 11 games for the 49ers last year, McCaffrey contributed 746 rushing yards, 464 receiving yards, and a total of 10 touchdowns as the ‘Niners went to the NFC Championship game.
In exchange for McCaffrey, the Panthers received a bundle of draft picks, some of which were parlayed into the draft positions to select current quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher D.J. Johnson. The Panthers are hoping that Young will be a franchise quarterback.
Once again, in 2023, Carolina finds itself mired in a dismal season, 0-6 and in last place in the NFC South. It’s probably just as well for rabid Panthers fans that mobile North Carolina sports betting has not yet started.
As the NFL trade deadline approaches on Oct. 31, it might make sense for the Panthers to continue building for the future by trading outstanding veterans for draft picks.
At the top of the list of desirable Panthers is fifth-year Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Burns, who has 42 career sacks so far, and four sacks in six games this season. Incidentally, D.J. Johnson, the rookie who wound up being drafted in the third round as a result of the McCaffrey trade machinations, is listed behind Burns and another player on the Panthers’ depth chart at outside linebacker.
BetCarolina.com - your source for NC sports betting apps - considered the Panthers’ strategic options as well as the trade market for a player of Brian Burns’ caliber and came up with a likely list of suitors.
The list is mostly playoff contenders that could use an impact pass rusher to get them into the postseason and make a Super Bowl run. The Panthers’ playoffs chances, at 0-6, are the definition of a longshot.
MORE: NFL Betting in North Carolina
Brian Burns Trade Odds
Here are the teams we predict are most likely to be the home of Brian Burns after the NFL trade deadline.
As is often the case with trades, the strongest possibility is that Burns just stays with Carolina, with BetCarolina.com handicapping that outcome as having a 66.7% chance, or, in betting terms, odds of -200.
If there is a deal for Burns, BetCarolina.com calculates that two of the more likely trade partners are Baltimore and the L.A. Rams, each with a 7.7% chance, or +1200 odds.
The next possibilities are: Jacksonville at a 6.2% chance, or +1500 odds; Miami, at a 5.4% chance, or +1750 odds, and Kansas City, also a 5.4% chance, +1750 odds. Any outcome other than the ones above (including Burns staying put) is seen as a 10% chance, or +900.
When mobile betting launches early in 2024, be sure to be ready with the best North Carolina sports betting promos.
