Giants Acquire Pass Rusher Brian Burns in Blockbuster Trade
The New York Giants have acquired defensive end/outside linebacker Brian Burns in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. This acquisition will significantly upgrade the Giants' sluggish pass rush of late.
The Giants, who signed Burns to a five-year, $150 million contract with $87.5 million guaranteed, gave up one of their second-round picks in this year's draft (No. 39, which was their original pick), swapped fifth-round picks this year, and sent a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Panthers.
This compensation is similar to what the Giants managed to work out with the Seattle Seahawks when they traded Leonard Williams away last year. The Giants still have a second-round pick (No. 47) in next month's draft, thanks to the trade.
Burns, the 16th overall pick in the 2019 draft and a two-time Pro Bowler (2021 and 2022), has appeared in 80 games with 67 starts. He has 13 career pass breakups, 46 sacks, 95 quarterback hits, and 246 total tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he's primarily lined up on the defensive line (3,686 snaps) in his time with the Panthers, the bulk of those snaps outside the tackles.
Burns had his best season in 2022, recording 12.5 sacks, his lone double-digit sack season, and a career-high 63 tackles.
The Giants outside linebackers accounted for 19 of the team's 34 sacks last season. Kayvon Thibodeaux led the way with 11.5 sacks, and Jihad Ward and Azzez Ojulari contributed to the difference.
