After being traded by the Carolina Panthers, Brian Burns and the New York Giants reach a five-year, $150 million agreement.
After trading for Carolina Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns, the New York Giants signed a $150 million contract with the linebacker. Former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins also inked a four-year, $110 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
With Burns signing his franchise tag to complete the trade, the Panthers will receive a 2024 second-round selection and a 2025 fifth-round pick. Burns will also receive a fully guaranteed $76 million.
As the Giants attempt to improve on their pitiful 34 sacks in 2023, he will arrive as a headline bookend to a defensive front that presently features Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The Giants lost star running back Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles and safety Xavier McKinney to the Green Bay Packers on the same day that a deal for Burns was reached.
Burns, who will turn 26 in one month, finished his five seasons in Carolina with 46 sacks. In his first five seasons with the Panthers, only Julius Peppers—a recent inductee into the Hall of Fame—had more sacks.
Burns’ compensation is far less than what the Panthers would have gotten if they had dealt him to the Los Angeles Rams during the summer of 2018, when they offered two first-round selections in exchange for a 2019 first-round draft selection.
The Panthers will avoid paying Burns $24 million this season under the salary limit thanks to his decision to move on. Burns would have received that amount as their franchise tag player. The Panthers attempted to reach a long-term arrangement with Burns both during the NFL combine and last year, but were unable to reach a consensus.
Carolina currently has seven selections total in April, including two second-round selections (numbers 33 and 39). But when the Panthers moved up to get quarterback Bryce Young last year, they forfeited their first-round pick in 2024, which ended up being the first overall pick after ending 2-15.
