The New York Giants traded for linebacker Brian Burns and will give him a five-year, $141 million contract. As the Giants acquire the two-time Pro Bowler, the Carolina Panthers will get New York’s second-round (39th overall) and fifth-round (141st overall) picks.
Meanwhile, Burns’ new contract will include $87.5 million in guaranteed money and a $25 million signing bonus. The deal can be worth up to $150 million. That $30 million annual average salary is the fourth-highest among defensive players behind Nick Bosa, Chris Jones, and Aaron Donald.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024
Trade! The #Panthers are trading star Brian Burns — at last! — to the #Giants, per me and @MikeGarafolo.
Burns lands a 5-year deal worth $150M max with $87.5M guaranteed, done by Todd France of @AthletesFirst.
Carolina sends Burns to NYG for a 2nd and 5th rounders.… pic.twitter.com/UpdtdzB6s6
According to MMQB Senior NFL Reporter and Lead Content Strategist Albert Breer, Burns will get $43.5 million in 2024, $66.25 million over the first two years, and $90 million from 2024 to 2026.
His $18 million base salary for 2024 is fully guaranteed. Next year, he will earn a guaranteed $11.5 million from his $22.5 million base.
Burns will earn up to $1 million annually in per-game roster bonuses starting in 2026. He will also get a $2.5 million roster bonus if he’s still with the team by the fifth day of the 2027 and 2028 league year.
The former Florida State standout will earn a $500,000 roster bonus every season. In terms of cap hits, Burns will count for $23.5 million against the Giants’ cap this year and $27.75 million in 2025. That amount increases to $28.75 million in 2026 and $30.5 million each in 2027 and 2028.
The Panthers offered Burns the franchise tag worth $24 million earlier in March, even though they were among the teams with the biggest cap space. Instead, they will be losing a player who had career highs of 63 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 2022.
While he produced lower numbers in 2023, his 50 tackles and eight sacks are nothing to be sneered at. Burns added two pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Brian Burns will now help a Giants defense that features Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
-Lance Fernandez