The New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen pulled off what has the potential to be one of the more impactful moves of the first day of the legal tampering period, by acquiring All-Pro pass rusher Brian Burns in a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers.
Schoen pried away Burns for a meager second-round and fifth-round draft pick, adding a player who many around the league believe to be one of the premier players at his position. Last season, the Panthers turned down the opportunity to trade Burns for at least a first-round pick.
Burns now arrives in East Rutherford, as the Giants’ marquee addition prior to the new league year getting underway, with a new $150 million contract in tow after producing 46 sacks through his first five NFL seasons.
The New York Giants’ blockbuster trade is already generating rave reviews.
Pro Football Focus Raves About New York Giants’ Blockbuster
Pro Football Focus lists Burns as the outlet’s No. 37 ranked pass-rusher in the NFL, and a change of scenery could bring out the best in Burns.
“The most favorable way to look at this deal,” Brad Spielberger writes for PFF. “Is that the Giants effectively used the draft capital they acquired for interior defender Leonard Williams to land a younger player looking for a second contract instead of a third contract. Burns addresses arguably the biggest need on this Giants roster and should have a lot less attention on him all the time now playing alongside Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux.”
Spielberger gives the trade a “B” while awarding the Giants an “A++” for, filling a glaring need.
Burns is still an ascending talent and could have his best football in front of him in a New York Giants uniform.
According to Pro Football Focus, Burns added 40 total quarterback pressures, in addition to his eight sacks and 50 total tackles. That kind of production will be welcomed along the New York Giants’ front seven.
How Brian Burns Fits New York Giants’ Front Seven
Schoen and the New York Giants deserve high marks for committing resources to the front seven.
Ahead of what seems to be a mediocre at best class of pass-rushers in the NFL Draft, and a limited market in free agency, Schoen aggressively added arguably the best available player at the position this offseason.
Pairing Burns opposite ascending edge presence Kayvon Thibodeaux and with Dexter Lawrence rapidly becoming one of the premier players at his position, the foundation is in place for the New York Giants to dominate along the line of scrimmage defensively.
That really is the first step in building a dominant roster.
