Panthers Trade Brian Burns To Giants After Rejecting Monster Offer From Rams

The Carolina Panthers' decision to not trade Brian Burns to the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 came back to bite them.

After two years, the Brian Burns saga has finally come to an end as the Carolina Panthers traded the two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher to the New York Giants on Monday evening.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Carolina is getting a second and a fifth-round pick from New York in the deal. The Giants are also signing Burns to a five-year deal worth $150 million, making him the second-highest paid edge rusher in the league behind San Francisco 49ers star Nick Bosa.

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

It's a disappointing end to the saga for Carolina, especially when thinking about what could've been.

Before the 2022 trade deadline, the Panthers reportedly had a massive offer from the Los Angeles Rams for the star pass-rusher. Reports claim that the Rams offered first-round picks in 2024 and 2025, as well as a second-round pick in 2025, for Burns' services. Despite that massive haul, the Panthers ultimately turned the Rams down.

The decision to reject the Rams' offer seemed like a mistake at the time, and it only looks worse in retrospect. Those picks would've been amazing assets for a rebuilding team like the Panthers, who finished an NFL-worst 2-15 this season. Additionally, they would've saved themselves the headache of Burns' contract situation over the past two years.

Meanwhile, the Rams dodged a bullet thanks to the Panthers' lack of foresight. Burns would've been a good addition to the defense, but probably not worth mortgaging their future even more. Remember that this proposed deal was reported in 2022, a lost season for the Rams with the sheer number of injuries they suffered. 

Could Rams Target Eagles' Reddick Via Trade?

If the deal had gone through, L.A.'s future would not look anywhere near as bright as it does now. For that, the Rams should thank their lucky stars.