Giants general manager Joe Schoen loses Xavier McKinney but makes a huge deal and signs a blockbuster contract for Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns.
With a blockbuster trade and contract on Monday, Giants general manager Joe Schoen showed the Carolina Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns how much he values his team.
To acquire the two-time Pro Bowler, the Giants sent their fifth-round pick to Carolina along with their No. 39 overall second-round pick.
They also decided to give Burns a massive contract worth $150 million over five years, with a further $87.5 million guaranteed to seal the deal.
It was a significant move by a squad that was bold and desperate. Before he joined the Philadelphia Eagles, Bryce Huff, a pass rusher for the Jets, allegedly had the attention of the Giants as well.
Now, only Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers ($34 million) has a higher yearly average in the NFL than Burns ($30 million).
Burns, 25, is a former Florida State first-round selection who had 46 sacks in five years with Carolina, including eight in the most recent campaign. Throughout the previous three seasons, he has participated in 49 out of 51 regular season games, demonstrating his remarkable durability.
Xavier McKinney, the Giants’ free safety and captain, signed a four-year, $68 million contract for $17 million with the Green Bay Packers, earning a large salary of his own.
Saquon Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the despised Philadelphia Eagles, of which $26 million was guaranteed. This was on top of that.
However, Schoen released those players with the intention of use his resources to improve his front lines, both offensive and defensive.
The general manager chose Burns over 29-year-old, free-agent Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings, who recorded 16.5 sacks in the previous year.
Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux are currently Schoen’s defensive linemen. Additionally, he started addressing the team’s real weak point—its offensive line—by adding Raiders right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and Packers right guard Jon Runyan Jr.
With Dan Morgan, the new general manager of the Panthers, the Giants general manager had a ready trade partner.
When Morgan was a player with the Panthers, Schoen was part of the scouting team in Carolina. Later, they collaborated in the front office of the Buffalo Bills under Beane Brandon.
