Brian Burns probably made a few more million dollars on Friday, and he didn’t even have to lift a finger.
In what’s probably considered the opposite of a Friday news dump, the NFL announced an unprecedented salary cap increase heading into the 2024 season. The figure has been set at $255.4 million, up by a year-to-year record-breaking jump of $30.6 million from 2023.
That number also left the projections in the dust. Popular salary and contract information hub Over the Cap previously forecasted the cap at approximately $242 million, around $13 million less than the actual digits.
This, obviously, will give teams a bit more flexibility in free agency. And that includes the Carolina Panthers—who now have about $40.2 million, not $28.6 million, to work with.
Last we’ve heard about their contract negotiations, the Panthers and Burns were a few million dollars off in annual value. Recent reports suggested the two-time Pro Bowl was seeking close to $30 million per year with Carolina willing to go to $27 million.
This newfound capital could spark some fresh talks and finally get the Panthers a little closer to Burns’ price.
If not, Burns can make a few more bucks off the franchise tag.
Past projections had linebackers receiving a little under $23 million for the 2024 campaign. But now, that figure sits at $24 million—which is also $2.68 million more than he would’ve earned as a defensive end had the team not switched to a 3-4 base defense. (Thanks, Ejiro Evero.)
So, either way, Burns is likely to rake in a bit more than he was expecting to.
