Brian Burns

Brian Burns

25-Year-Old LinebackerLB
New York Giants
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Burns racked up career highs with 12.5 sacks and 63 tackles last season despite all the turmoil around him, as coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow were both fired after Week 5, but his 30 QB pressures was actually his fewest in three years. The Florida State product heads into the final year of his rookie contract looking to take another step forward, but new coordinator Ejiro Evero likely will have a bigger impact on the Panthers' secondary than their pass rush, and Burns got no significant help in the offseason. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
$Signed a five-year, $150 million contract with the Giants in March of 2024.
Traded to Giants, signing huge deal
LBNew York Giants
March 11, 2024
The Giants are acquiring Burns in a trade with the Panthers and signing him to a five-year contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
The initial report has it as a $150 million contract, with the Giants sending second-and fifth-round picks to Carolina for the right to make Burns one of the highest-paid non-QBs in league history. The 2019 first-round pick has been both durable and consistent, recording at least 7.5 sacks every season while missing just three games. He's never had the kind of dominant campaign that other defenders with similar contracts have all produced, but it's possible that lies ahead with Burns heading into his age-26 campaign. It's also possible the contract numbers initially reported are inflated with incentives or other money that's unlikely to actually end up in his pocket. Either way, the Giants now have the fastest pair of edge rushers in the league with Burns (4.53 40) joining 2022 fifth overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux (4.58), who had 11.5 sacks in 2023.
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NFL Stats
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2022
2021
2020
2019
2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
New York GiantsGiants 2023 LB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

1091100%
94787%
71265%
40737%
36634%
484%
182%
131%
20%
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2023 Brian Burns Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Brian Burns' measurables compare to other linebackers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 5"
 
Weight
250 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.53 sec
 
Cone Drill
7.01 sec
 
Vertical Jump
36.0 in
 
Broad Jump
129 in
 
Hand Length
10.00 in
 
Arm Length
33.88 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Brian Burns See More
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
If Burns ever plays for a team with a positive point differential he could lead the league in sacks. The bad news is that the Panthers offense will likely remain awful, and Burns will have to continue pushing the boulder uphill. The good news is Burns is still improving even though he’s already a top talent. He has one of the league’s best per-snap production profiles among defensive ends and just turned 24 in April.
Burns might not be a household name, but that could change soon. Burns has 16.5 sacks on 1,233 career snaps — a rate of about 11 sacks per 800 snaps — and just turned 23 in April. That level of pass-rushing production shows he already has strong skills as a pass rusher, and he has elite athletic tools to build on that game. At 6-5, 249, Burns ran a 4.53-second 40 while posting a 129-inch broad jump. Pair that elite explosiveness with his huge wingspan and you have a defender with exceptional range.
Last year's 16th overall pick, Burns got off to a hot start as a rookie, totaling 4.5 sacks and returning a fumble for a touchdown across his first six games. He then underwent a minor wrist procedure and saw his snap count slide over the second half of the season, but he still finished with 25 tackles and 7.5 sacks while playing all 16 games. Entering his second year, the 6-5 speedster will hope that strength added to his 250-pound frame will help him hold up better against the run and become a more complete player, which is an intriguing thought considering his explosive upside.
Following the retirement of Julius Peppers, a franchise cornerstone who ranks fourth all-time in sacks, the Panthers unsurprisingly added to their front seven through the draft. In fact, they didn't wait long, taking Burns 16th overall. At 6-5, 249, Burns tested at an elite level prior to the draft, making him a mouth-watering prospect off the edge. In three seasons at Florida State, he posted 23 sacks, including 10 in his final year. Carolina will hope he can also stand up to more powerful players, but the opportunity for early playing time is certainly there for Burns to show his stuff. That makes the 21-year-old an intriguing commodity as he embarks on his NFL career.
More Fantasy News
Gets franchise tag
LBCarolina Panthers
March 5, 2024
The Panthers gave Burns a franchise tag Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Leads team in sacks
LBCarolina Panthers
January 14, 2024
Burns finished the regular season with 50 tackles (32 solo), including eight sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 16 games.
ANALYSIS
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Registers sack in shutout loss
LBCarolina Panthers
January 1, 2024
Burns finished Sunday's 26-0 loss to the Jaguars with eight tackles (five solo), including one sack.
ANALYSIS
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Good to go for Week 16
LBCarolina Panthers
December 22, 2023
Burns (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Packers.
ANALYSIS
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Absence Wednesday due to illness
LBCarolina Panthers
Illness
December 20, 2023
Burns' not participating at practice Wednesday was because of an illness.
ANALYSIS
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