CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's not easy being a Carolina Panthers fan these days, even if you're country music superstar Luke Combs.
The North Carolina native shared his frustration with the team Monday night after news broke that pass rusher Brian Burns was being traded to the New York Giants for a pair of draft picks. Making things worse, the haul for Burns was much less than the Panthers reportedly turned down two years ago, when the Los Angeles Rams offered two first-round picks and a second-round selection. Instead, they got a second- and fifth-round pick for Burns, who signed a $150 million contract.
"WHAT ARE WE DOING?!?!?!" Combs posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "No first round pick for McCaffrey a few years back and now non for Burns?!?! Are we just fire bombing the whole team here or what? I usually don't comment on these kinds of things but it's just becoming a slow torture at this point."
The post was liked over 28,000 times and has been seen by 2.8 million people.
Combs' energy matches that of many Panthers fans who are frustrated with the team's lack of success in recent years. It's been six seasons since Carolina went to the playoffs and with the team in rebuilding mode, don't look for that to change any time soon.
In the last 18 months, Carolina has traded three former first-round picks who are younger than 26. Those players, who should be the cornerstones of the franchise, were traded for a collection of draft picks and the rights to select Bryce Young No. 1 overall. But it was apparent Young was playing with a short deck during a dismal rookie season. If only he had Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore to make things easier.
On the bright side, new general manager Dan Morgan prioritized protecting Young, signing two prized offensive guards in free agency. Carolina still has quite a few holes to fill, but keeping Young upright is a high priority after he was sacked 62 times last season.
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