With a real need to sign a good winger to pair with Aidan Hutchinson this offseason, the Detroit Lions should leave no stone unturned.Getting a proven edge changer is definitely expensive. Leos must evaluate costs and risks being most appropriate for how highly they value it. When a big splash is made for an edge runner, it’s better to be a mix of really good, experienced and relatively young.Brian Burns is one of the best free agents available, if not the number one, when you combine his age (25, 26 on April 23), production (at least 7.5 sacks in all five seasons of his career ), unrealized potential up . and his appeal to the Carolina Panthers deficit to sign a long-term contract.Sure, the Panthers can buy Burns out and keep him for another year. But in response to a question about franchise tags and tagging and picks, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer floated the idea of a tag and trade with Burns.andquot;…With Burns, it’s because he and the Panthers haven’t been close to a long-term deal over the last two years.andquot;In November, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the Panthers were expected to franchise mark Burns.A tag and trade would give the Lions an easier chance to acquire Brian Burns.Instead of signing him to a big multi-year deal right away in March, the Panthers would tag Burns and trade them to more teams on the roster. could be confused to get him; although it may only be a one-year lease.The Lions have a lot of cap space and it would be easy to give up their late first round pick if it meant getting burned. As for giving up first-round running back Edell in a trade, it may or may not be him.Over The Cap’s 2024 franchise tag projections drop to $23.348 million on the defensive end. That would be all but guaranteed for Burns in 2024 if given the typical franchise tag.Spotrac has Burnsand#039; market value was $21.7 million per year (five-year contract, $108.7 million). It seems like the Lions could make such a long-term deal work for someone who could be a legitimate building block.If the Lions are considering an aggressive move to add a cornerback, Burns could easily be at the top of their target list. If the Panthers franchise means to flip the idea and accept trade offers for him, that’s an alternative way to get him that shouldn’t be dismissed..