Grading the Panthers-Giants Trade Featuring Brian Burns

The All Panthers staff offers thoughts on Carolina's decision to move Brian Burns.

Monday evening, the Carolina Panthers agreed to trade pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants in exchange for a second and fifth round pick, according to multiple reports.

Below our staff grades the trade.

Schuyler Callihan: D-

The only thing that could have made this worse is if the Panthers let him walk away for nothing a year from now. So, something's better than nothing, right? But goodness gracious...a two and a five after slamming the door shut on TWO first rounders from L.A. in 2022? Holy moly. Just another example of how poorly this roster has been managed in recent years. Aside from that, it creates a massive hole on the defense and with Luvu on his way out as well, it feels like the Panthers are punting on 2024. 

Matt Alquiza: D 

The only reason the isn’t worse is because they at least got something, but this is horrid business for Carolina. Turning down a haul from the Rams two and a half years ago will go down as one of the worst decisions in franchise history. Now, Burns stays in the conference and plays out the prime of his career because the Panthers wouldn’t pony up the cash to pay their most talented player. A huge bummer to kick off the offseason in Charlotte.

Matt Welch: D 

Losing Burns hurts. But what hurts even more is how he underperformed during a contract year and now the Panthers only got a 2nd and 5th round pick. This marks the third big name player in two years to get dealt out of Carolina with awful returns that will not go a long way into helping out this franchise.

Ian Black: C+ 

Obviously the opportunity value from the proposed trade a couple years ago stings, but the return is actually pretty fine for a franchise tag player of Burns’ caliber. People will see no first round picks and it will sting, but a contract-less Burns is not something virtually any team would give up a first for. A hard pill to swallow for Carolina fans losing a fan favorite, but ultimately probably the best direction to head given the state of the roster.

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