There has been a swell of hype surrounding New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns since he was acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers earlier this offseason, but is it warranted?
Anthony DiBona of Pro Football Network says “no.”
“There are certainly players around the league who have failed to live up to expectations or are ranked a bit higher than they should be,” DiBona writes.
And he believes Burns is one of those, naming him the Giants’ most overrated player.
In an attempt to keep up with the rest of the NFC East, the New York Giants made a blockbuster trade for edge rusher Brian Burns this offseason. Not only did the Giants trade multiple draft picks for Burns, but they also made him the third-highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL.
Despite New York’s massive commitment, it’s fair to wonder if Burns has officially become overrated at this point. He was an impactful pass rusher for the Panthers, but it’s fair to wonder if he was ever considered elite.
Burns recorded just 40 total pressures in 2023. The Giants certainly hope that he’ll play better moving forward.
The Panthers switched from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense under Ejiro Evero in 2023, which not only meant the scheme changed but Burns’ position changed. After three seasons as a defensive end, he was moved outside to linebacker and his role evolved. All of those things undoubtedly factored into the statistical production dip but may not tell the complete story.
Additionally, it’s hard to say Burns is overrated based on his contract. Players are signed to deals based on what the team believes they can do as opposed to what they’ve done, so there’s not yet a sample size to compare Burns’ production to his salary. That will come after the 2024 season.
So, is Burns overrated? That all comes down to personal opinion.
