I don't see what financial incentive there is cap wise for the Panthers to release Burton considering Burton is reportedly on a minimum contract
the Panthers might want financial compensation to release Burton in view of the current Covid economic climate, may see Burton's place in their FG squad a waste knowing he is leaving in 9 months when it might be better served promoting another junior half that would benefit from the early exposure to the FG squad, and would be engendering good will noting that Burton would benefit from the release in both FG opportunity and earnings... all reasons I can think of