Before the New York Giants traded for Carolina Panthers edge rusher this past March, they appeared to be prepared to ink Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.
Wilkins, a college teammate of Dexter Lawrence’s at Clemson, was headed for free agency and the Giants had discussed signing him believing that Burns would be too costly.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen was turned off of Wilkins by director of pro scouting Chris Rossetti, who after stating Wilkins and Lawrence’s close relationship, believed he wasn’t the right fit.
“I don’t think he’s a difference-making pass rusher on third down, which is what we need opposite Dex. But a really good football player who will do well for himself,” Rossetti said in episode 1.
Here’s some further context from the folks at Pro Football Rumors:
Schoen and assistant GM Brandon Brown discussed Wilkins at the Combine, with the former loosely applying a $22MM-per-year price tag on the five-year Dolphins defender. Brown gave a positive review of Wilkins to Schoen, though the Giants joined the Dolphins in having questions about the 2019 first-rounder’s pass-rushing impact.
Indicating a third-down presence alongside Lawrence was an offseason goal, Rossetti provided a sign the Giants would pass on a true Wilkins pursuit. Though, it is notable Schoen and Brown were still discussing the five-year starter at the Combine. Schoen’s early prediction on Wilkins’ AAV turned out to undersell where his market went, with the Raiders needing to give the top-flight run defender/emerging pass rusher a $27.5MM-per-year accord. Wilkins committed to the Raiders hours before the Giants traded for Burns.
Wilkins did get a bundle from the Raiders ($110 million over four years with $84.5 million guaranteed), which was just shy of what the Giants extended Burns for ($141 million over five years with $87.5 million guaranteed).
Burns appears to be a better fit for the Giants — an outside edge threat with Pro Bowl credentials.
Schoen had originally thought Burns would cost him two second-round picks — or even more — in a trade, but leveraging his relationship with Panthers general manager Dan Morgan, he was able to get Burns for just one second-rounder, a 2025 fifth-round pick and a swap of fifth-rounders.
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