In an exciting development for the New York Giants, pass rusher Brian Burns will be joining their roster in a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers. According to NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, the Giants wasted no time in securing Burns, offering him a lucrative five-year contract worth a maximum of $150 million, with $87.5 million guaranteed.

The Panthers, who had previously applied the franchise tag on Burns, will receive second and fifth-round selections, specifically picks number 39 and 141 overall, respectively, in exchange for the talented pass rusher. However, the trade cannot be officially completed until the start of the league year on Wednesday.

The Giants were eager to bolster their pass rush, seeking to pair a formidable bookend with Kayvon Thibodeaux, who impressed with 11.5 sacks in the 2023 season, playing in all 17 games. As Azeez Ojulari dealt with injuries for most of the previous season, the Giants struggled, managing only 34 sacks, putting them among the teams with the fewest in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Panthers found themselves amid similar struggles, ranking below the Giants with just 27 sacks and also finishing 29th in points allowed. However, it is worth noting that Burns was not the cause of their defensive woes. In fact, the 25-year-old led the team in sacks for the second consecutive year, recording eight sacks. Additionally, he tallied 18 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for loss, two passes defended, and a forced fumble.

Despite his exceptional performance, the Panthers were hesitant to offer Burns a long-term deal. He played last season on the fifth-year option salary and even sat out a few preseason practices in an attempt to leverage a new contract, but his efforts were ultimately in vain.

Selected as the 16th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Burns has made a significant impact throughout his career, accumulating an impressive stat line of 46 sacks, 95 quarterback hits, 59 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles, and two recoveries, including one touchdown return, in 80 career games, with 67 starts. Notably, he has never missed more than one game in each of his five seasons in the league.

While the Giants are facing the potential loss of running back Saquon Barkley to the rival Philadelphia Eagles, they have swiftly shifted their focus to secure an agreement with running back Devin Singletary. Now, with the addition of Brian Burns, the Giants have successfully added a major defensive piece to their roster, signaling their determination to build a formidable team for the upcoming season.