Brian Burns is getting ready for his close-up.
Long considered one of the league’s premier defensive talents, Burns has strayed away from the spotlight throughout his professional career. Such is the case when you play for the Panthers, one of the NFL’s most snake-bitten franchises.
After five years lurking in the shadows, Burns will finally get a chance under the bright lights. The two-time Pro Bowler was dealt to the Giants on Monday, subsequently agreeing a mammoth five-year contract extension with his newfound franchise, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
At just 25, Burns is one of the league’s most prominent sack specialists. He enjoyed another standout campaign in 2023, recording eight sacks for 2-15 Carolina. Now, he’ll get a chance to dovetail with another budding EDGE rushing dynamo — Kayvon Thibodeaux — in the City that Never Sleeps.
Here’s what you need to know about the terms of Burns’ sparkly new deal.
NFL FREE AGENCY 2024: Live grades | Top 75 rankings | Landing spot predictions
Brian Burns contract details
The terms of Burns’ contract are as follows, per Rapoport and Garafolo:
- Team: New York Giants
- Years: Five
- Value: $ 150 million
Burns netted the Panthers a sizable return on investment, with the Giants dealing a 2024 second- and 2025 fifth-round selection to acquire his services.
It’s easy to see the reason why. New York was desperate for another pass-rushing threat to pair with Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence. Who better than Burns, one of the league’s more productive defensive line talents?
With an average annual value (AAV) of $ 30 million, Burns becomes the second-highest-paid EDGE rusher in the league, surpassed only by Nick Bosa’s $ 34 million deal.
BEST FREE AGENTS AVAILABLE:
QBs | RBs | WRs | Defense | Overall
Among defensive linemen, Burns makes the fourth-highest salary: only Bosa, Chris Jones ($ 31.75 million), and Aaron Donald ($ 31.66 million) make more.
Burns’ latest deal comes with an $ 87.5 million guarantee, more than any defensive linemen but Bosa.
He’ll make $ 24 million in 2024 — Carolina placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on him ahead of the free agency period. Burns was adamant that he wanted a contract paying him around $ 30 million a season while conducting extension talks with the Panthers last season. Now, he gets it.
Brian Burns stats
Burns doesn’t quite have the track record of Bosa, Myles Garrett, or T.J. Watt. He’s no slouch, however, showcasing an enticing blend of speed, strength, and desire to get to the QB that has some thinking he can climb the ranks of pass-rushing greats.
Since his debut in 2019, Burns has recorded 46 sacks, tied for the 12th-most during that span. He’s added 151 tackles (59 for loss), 95 quarterback hits, and eight fumbles, an impressive sum given the lack of talent that surrounded him while in the Queen City.
The Giants are betting on Burns’ skillset with their contract offer, as he enjoyed his least productive season (by way of sacks) since his rookie year. He still slotted in as one of football’s best EDGE threats during the season, earning a 74.1 PFF player grade in 2023.
Here’s a closer look at Burns’ numbers over the years:
| Year | Games | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | Pass defenses | Forced fumbles |
| 2019 | 16 | 25 | 5 | 7.5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 15 | 58 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 3 |
| 2021 | 17 | 50 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| 2022 | 16 | 63 | 17 | 12.5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | 16 | 50 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
NFL’s highest-paid defensive players for 2024
Despite earning $ 30 million AAV over the course of his deal, Burns will “only” make $ 24.01 million in 2024 after the Panthers franchised him. Below is a look at the NFL’s highest-paid defenders for 2024, according to Spotrac.
| Rank | Player | Team | AAV |
| 1 | Nick Bosa | 49ers | $ 34 million |
| 2 | Chris Jones | Chiefs | $ 31.75 million |
| 3 | Aaron Donald | Rams | $ 31.7 million |
| 4 | T.J. Watt | Steelers | $ 28 million |
| 5 | Joey Bosa | Chargers | $ 27 million |
| 6 | Myles Garrett | Browns | $ 25 million |
| 7 | Montez Sweat | Bears | $ 24.5 million |
| 8 | Brian Burns | Panthers | $ 24.01 million |
| Josh Allen | Jaguars | $ 24.01 million | |
| 10 | Quinnen Williams | Jets | $ 24 million |
| Rashan Gary | Packers | $ 24 million |
