When the New York Giants acquired edge rusher Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers in the heart of the free agency period, they had hoped to take their defensive line to the next level.
Ahead of their first season together, the combination of Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux has been named a top-10 pass rush duo by ESPN.
The Giants ranked seventh overall on the list, behind the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
The duo of Thibodeaux and Burns should be strong from the jump in 2024 and with Dexter Lawrence also in the mix, the defensive line is expected to be one of the elite units in the NFL.
ESPN also ranked the top 50 edge rushers where the Giants saw Burns, Thibodeaux, and Azeez Ojulari make the list. By no surprise, Burns was the highest-ranked Giant on the list at ninth overall.
9. Brian Burns, New York Giants
Projected 2024 sacks: 10.2
ESPN BET over/under: 8.5
2023 sack total: 8.0The model is projecting Burns’ first season with the Giants to result in a sack increase after he was dealt from Carolina this past offseason. Burns has been a steady performer at a level just below the elite pass rushers, maxing out at 12.5 sacks in 2022. He managed only eight last season, though playing on a bad Panthers team that was rarely ahead contributed to the lower total. The Giants aren’t much better, but Burns’ history of consistently strong win rates and his 2022 production buoys his forecast.
Given the amount the Giants gave up for Burns and the contract that ensued following the trade, there are big expectations surrounding the veteran.
This will be the most talent Burns has ever been around on a defensive front and they should be the Giants’ strongest defensive unit this season.
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