New York Giants Star Pass Rusher Sends Stern Warning To NFL

The New York Giants finished with just 34 sacks last season, which ranked near the bottom of the NFL. However, things may be about to change on that front heading into 2024.

The Giants landed arguably the best pass rusher on the market this offseason, landing Brian Burns in a sign-and-trade deal with the Carolina Panthers.

Burns will now help comprise what is suddenly a very impressive defensive front that also includes Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence, and he is excited for the opportunities he and Thibodeaux will receive to punish opposing quarterbacks thanks to the dominance of Lawrence.

“He commands a lot,” Burns said of Lawrence, via Pat Leonard of The New York Daily News. “I’m excited for it because I know they really have to key in on him, and also having somebody opposite of me, they’re pretty much going to have to pick their poison on who they’re going to key or slide to. With Dex demanding so much attention and Kayvon also demanding attention, it’s going to free us up a lot.”

Burns is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he played 16 games and registered 50 tackles, eight sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The 26-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Florida State, was selected by the Panthers with the 16th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.

He enjoyed a solid rookie season, recording 25 tackles, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown. The following year, he posted 58 tackles, nine sacks and three forced fumbles.

Burns then went on to make back-to-back trips to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022, posting 50 tackles, nine sacks and a couple of forced fumbles in the former year and racking up 63 tackles, 12.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the latter campaign.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fl. native landed a massive five-year, $150 million contract from the Giants and is clearly happy in his new surroundings.

“I was shocked,” Burns said of the trade. “It was a pleasant surprise, but I was excited for the change.”

New York went just 6-11 in 2023, which came one year after the Giants went 9-6-1 and made a surprising playoff appearance.

Big Blue has made the postseason just twice since 2012. Hopefully, Burns can help get New York’s defense back on track to spearhead some more trips to the playoffs.