The New York Giants saw many players take a significant step in their careers in 2024.
One in particular was veteran defensive end Brian Burns, who was identified by Pro Football Focus as their most improved player this season.
The Giants traded a second-round pick for Brian Burns, hoping that he could inject some life into a pass-rush that was lacking juice. Burns hadn’t turned into the elite pass-rusher that the Panthers were hoping for, but he took considerable steps forward from his final season in Carolina. His sack totals remained the same, but Burns’ overall effectiveness improved. He had 61 pressures in his first season with the Giants, the second-highest total of his career, and the 13th-most in the NFL.
Burns thrived in creating negative plays for opposing offenses in general. His 42 stops in 2024 were a career-high and the second-most in the NFL, behind Jonathon Cooper, and 30 of those defensive stops came against the run, an area where Burns has particularly struggled in his career. Stark improvement for an edge rusher who has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL.
Burns did not come free, mind you. The Giants traded a second-rounder and swapped fifth-rounders with the Panthers for Burns. They then inked him to a five-year, $141 extension.
The intention was to pair him with outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux to create a 1-2 punch in their outside pass rush. Thibodeaux suffered a fractured wrist and missed five games while Burns was more reliable, playing in all 17 games and 80 percent of the defensive snaps.
