New York Giants should consider a trade for Panthers DE Brian Burns

The New York Giants will look to supplement their pass rush this offseason and beef up a top-heavy unit.

Behind Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants have very little. Azeez Ojulari has failed to reach his ceiling and routinely finds himself sidelined with injury, Tomon Fox is still developing and Isaiah Simmons is headed for free agency.

Despite their obvious need for an edge rusher or two, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the Giants are unwilling to spend top dollar for the premier free agents.

The Giants desperately want to add at edge rusher. They’re going to monitor the top of the market (i.e., Danielle Hunter) but aren’t really looking to spend in that range, one source told ESPN at the combine.

But there are a lot of quality, starting-caliber options, such as A.J. Epenesa, Bryce Huff, Andrew Van Ginkel, Josh Uche and Leonard Floyd, a player the Giants have long coveted. That’s more likely the path they travel in free agency.

But perhaps there is another avenue general manager Joe Schoen could take. Say… A trade.

The Carolina Panthers placed the franchise tag on defensive end Brian Burns at the deadline but reports suggest the two sides are no longer engaged in long-term contract talks. Rather, the Panthers may seek to move the two-time Pro Bowler.

Josina Anderson of CBS Sports believes a trade for Burns would be affordable for most teams. With a new contract required, his price has dropped from a year ago and Anderson now feels Burns could be had for as little as a third-round pick.

Regarding Carolina’s current situation with Brian Burns, a league source told me in their opinion, that the #Panthers should adapt better to present circumstances in order to potentially consummate a trade. The source said in their view it’s a double whammy to pay huge money for… pic.twitter.com/upcMrGXBhF

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 7, 2024

The catch would be the new deal. Burns will command top-of-the-market value, which may be problematic for the Giants if Raanan’s reporting on their unwillingness to spend big is accurate.

Still, there has been smoke building throughout the Giants community over the past 24 hours that something is brewing. And as they say, “Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.”

A potential trade for Burns is certainly worth keeping an eye on.