It wasn’t long ago that the New York Giants pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers and handed Brian Burns a five-year, $141 million extension. Time moves fast in the NFL. When the ink dried, Burns became the second-highest-paid edge rusher behind Nick Bosa, who landed a $170 million deal from the San Francisco 49ers one year prior.
At the time, the reaction was mixed. Some saw it as a smart long-term investment — locking down a top-tier pass rusher without breaking the bank. Others questioned whether Burns’ production really justified that kind of money. But now that the dust has settled, hindsight is doing the Giants a favor.
Burns’ $28.2 million per year once raised eyebrows. Now it looks like a discount. After ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that T.J. Watt reset the market with a jaw-dropping three-year, $123 million deal ($41 million AAV) in Pittsburgh, Burns’ deal isn’t just digestible — it’s borderline team-friendly.
Steelers' T.J. Watt contract makes Brian Burns look like a bargain
Burns may not have the same resume as Watt — few do. Watt has the most sacks out of anyone over the past five seasons (73.5). His 108 career sacks blow Burns' 54.5 out of the water, but at least Burns still has youth on his side — Watt will turn 31 this upcoming season, while Burns turned 27 this past April.
Watt's talent is undeniable, but he has played with an objectively better defense than Burns has, both in Carolina and New York. But the tides could be turning quickly in the 27-year-old's favor.
Over the past two offseasons, it's clear general manager Joe Schoen is going back to Big Blue's Super Bowl roots by revamping and reinforcing the defensive line. Burns was already joined by Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence in Year 1, but Year 2 offers much more support.
Schoen signed free agent defensive end Chauncey Golston early in free agency before adding Abdul Carter and Darius Alexander via the draft. Carter was the class' de facto best pass rusher, equipped with athleticism and bend few players in the league possess. Alexander offers run-stuffing abilities with pass-rushing potential, making New York's defensive line one of the most feared units.
Not one player stands to benefit more than Burns. His first season wasn't bad. He ended the year with 8.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hurries, and an 82.9 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus.
With New York’s defensive front finally loaded with complementary talent, the version of Brian Burns the Giants paid for might just be the one they get. And if that happens, his $141 million deal won’t just look smart — it’ll look like highway robbery in a market that’s spiraling out of control.