The New York Giants made a trade on Monday with the Carolina Panthers that sent OLB Brian Burns to the Giants for a 2024 second-round pick, fifth-round pick swaps in 2024, and a 2025 fifth-round selection.
The Panthers were criticized for this move because they could have dealt Burns to the Los Angeles Rams for a couple of first-round selections before last year’s NFL trade deadline.
To go along with the trade, the Giants were able to sign Brian Burns to a five-year deal worth $150 million, and $87.5 million of it will be guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
Burns last season with the Carolina Panthers recorded 50 tackles, eight sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two pass deflections. He is only 25 years old and is about to enter the prime of his NFL career.
Carolina selected him 16th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Florida State. The Panthers were the worst team in the NFL last season at 2-15. This was a job well done by New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen.
A lot of New York Giants fans are happy about a Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux pass rush. This is how the Giants won their four Super Bowl titles. Cornerback Deonte Banks and linebackers Bobby Okekere and Micah McFadden also played a huge role in the defense last season.
They will need to address the safety position after losing Xavier McKinney and they will need to find another defensive tackle and cornerback. The core of this defense is set with Burns, Lawrence, and Thibodeaux moving forward.
New York Giants Fans React to the Acquisition of Brian Burns
When Burns was acquired via trade on Monday after the Giants lost running back Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles, a lot of fans on Twitter were funny about the potential of this defense. This is what some of them had to say about the trade:
I can’t wait for Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux to FEAST against Saquon Barkley
— Carly (@carlymersky) March 12, 2024
“Panthers fans feel like they got fleeced on Brian Burns and rightfully so..
There’s definitely cause for concern and this might be a tough season for the Panthers”@Sheena_Marie3 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/IAutOdeUPR
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 12, 2024
don’t care anymore. brian burns szn. pic.twitter.com/xYZHVrUD5m
— Aly (Thibodeaux Enthusiast) (@amiablexaly) March 12, 2024
It is an interesting trend that the Giants fanbase wants this core of Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, and Brian Burns to stuff Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley next season and other players. The fanbase knows that this defense has potential with new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen after Wink Martindale left in the offseason.
The Giants will need to address the offense and the quarterback position next. Dreaming about the potential for this defense in 2024 is a very good thing.