The New York Giants made a blockbuster move this offseason, acquiring star edge rusher Brian Burns in a trade with the Carolina Panthers.
The trade cost the Giants two draft picks before they signed him to a massive five-year contract extension. There will be extremely high expectations for the talented 26-year-old.
As the Giants look to bounce back after a tumultuous 6-11 season, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recognized the pressure Burns will be under to perform.
New York also has Kayvon Thibodeaux to help the pass rush, but Burns got a lucrative commitment after arriving via trade; specifically, his $28.2 million-per-year average ranks third among all edge rushers, behind only Nick Bosa and Josh Allen, even though he’s had double-digit sacks in just one of four NFL seasons. With Brian Daboll’s offense still a work in progress, he could be critical to their trajectory.
Burns has been one of the most electric pass-rushers in the NFL since he entered the league as a first-round pick in 2019.
His speed, burst and length from the edge give the Giants the type of bendy speed rusher they’ve been missing for quiet some time. Having Dexter Lawrence on the inside and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the opposite edge should make life a bit easier for Burns.
There’s always more pressure to perform in a place like New York compared to Charlotte, and Burns will be commanding a lot of attention in his first season as a Giant.
If his past production tells us anything, Burns should be just fine.
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