The Giants believe their pass rush got better this week.
Make that considerably better.
On Wednesday, outside linebacker Brian Burns was introduced to the Giants media on a zoom call. A lot is expected of Burns, a Carolina Panther for the past five seasons.
โIโm super excited to be here,โ Burns said. โIโm kind of giddy.โ
Asked if heโs a โNew York kind of guy,โ Burns said, โFor sure. I donโt feel like New York will be too big for me.โ
In the biggest deal of his tenure with the Giants, general manager Joe Schoen completed a sign-and-trade with the Panthers for Burns, who agreed to a five-year, $150 million deal with the Giants, including $87.5 million guaranteed. Burns becomes the second-highest-paid pass rusher in the NFL in terms of average annual salary, at $30 million – behind only Nick Bosa of the 49ers, who makes $34 million per year.
Wow.
Burns received a signing bonus of $25 million and is set to receive $90 million over the first three years of the contract.
With the Giants, Burns will be asked to meet very high expectations and to team with Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux to form the nucleus of a formidable defensive line.
Fortunately for Burns, introductions are not necessary.
โI came out [of college] with Dexter,โ Burns said. โWith Thibodeaux, I took him out as a recruit at Florida State. [Thibodeaux ultimately chose Oregon]. Thereโs a lot of talent on this [Giants] team. Respect to Carolina, I had a great five years there, but it came to an end, and we split paths. But Iโm super excited to be a Giant. Iโm ready to continue my career and do great things.โ
Lawrence was named to Pro Football Focusโs All-Pro team and Thibodeaux is coming off his first double-digit sack season. According to PFF, the trio, including Burns, combined for 148 quarterback pressures and 23.5 sacks in 2023.
Asked to describe the player the Giants are getting, Burns said: โGetting someone whoโs coming to work, always going to be professional,…
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