The Carolina Panthers are coming off a disappointing 6-11 season. Their offense witnessed a terrible struggle, with quarterback Daniel Jones sustaining a season-ending injury. The team is now making off-season moves to bolster the squad for the upcoming season.
The Giants sent shockwaves by first franchise tagging and later parting ways with running back Saquon Barkley. The team shocked fans once again by acquiring defensive end Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers. Burns had the flexibility to negotiate with other teams after receiving the non-exclusive tag from the Panthers last week, and now the Giants are his next destination.
Brian Burns set to join Giants on massive deal
The Giants have secured Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers in a significant deal. NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo revealed the acquisition on Monday, confirming that Burns will don the Giants’ blue. The team inked the veteran to a substantial five-year contract valued at a maximum of $150 million, with an impressive $87.5 million guaranteed, per CBS Sports.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero added that $76 million of this sum is fully guaranteed upon Burns signing the deal. The financial commitment places him as the second highest-paid pass rusher in the league based on average annual salary, trailing only Nick Bosa with a $30 million yearly payout compared to Bosa’s $34 million.
Despite a less-than-stellar 2023 season for the Panthers, Brian Burns proved his caliber with 40 pressures, eight sacks, 18 quarterback hits, and an 11.1% pressure rate. However, his standout performance was in the 2022 season, where he ranked among the top pass rushers with 12.5 sacks, 22 QB hits, and 17 tackles for loss.
The veteran has consistently delivered for the Panthers since being selected as the 16th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He accumulated an impressive resume of 46 sacks, 95 QB hits, 59 tackles for loss along with eight forced fumbles, and two recoveries (including a touchdown return) throughout 80 career games, with 67 starts. Only ex-NFL icon Julius Peppers recorded more sacks than Burns in his first five seasons with the franchise.
What do Panthers receive for the Brian Burns trade?
The Panthers will receive second- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 39 and 141 overall) in Brian Burns’ trade. However, the move is pending official confirmation at the start of the league year on Wednesday. It not only bolsters the team’s draft capital but also clears an impressive $24 million in cap space for the Panthers.
The acquisition of extra draft picks positions the Panthers strategically for the upcoming draft, enhancing their ability to address team needs. With the second-round selection, the team can aim to bolster their roster by potentially targeting a strong wide receiver or offensive line prospect.
Nevertheless, the compensation for the veteran in this trade is notably less than what the Panthers could have garnered last summer. The Los Angeles Rams proposed a deal involving two first-round picks for the talented defensive player, which they refused.
Brian Burns was on the trade market with a higher price tag a year ago, but the Panthers resisted offers. He played last season on a fifth-year option salary after the team declined to offer him a long-term deal. Despite his efforts to negotiate a new contract, a resolution was never reached.
