"Mutual Interest" Exists Between Giants, Panthers for Brian Burns Trade
The New York Giants need pass-rushing help badly, and there is an emerging possibility that general manager Joe Schoen might be looking to trade for it.
Such is the claim of SNY's Connor Hughes, who reported that the Giants and Carolina Panthers are mutually interested in pass rusher Brian Burns, whom the Panthers franchised.
According to The Athletic's Diana Russini, talk of a potential trade between the two teams has been brewing for a while. CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones reported that things are "trending" toward a deal, though nothing is complete just yet.
As a franchise-tagged player, Burns would bring two first-round picks as compensation if he signed with another team and the Panthers did not match it, but the Giants aren't in a position to give up such a rich haul, which would include the sixth overall pick in this year's draft.
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 breakus, 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.
In addition to settling on the compensation, which could see the Giants flipping both of their second-round draft picks as part of the deal, New York would also have to sign Burs to a new multiyear contract to complete the tag-and-trade.
