It wasn’t long ago that the New York Giants pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers and handed Brian Burns a five-year, $141 million extension. Time moves fast in the NFL. When the ink dried, Burns became the second-highest-paid edge rusher behind Nick Bosa, who landed a $170 million deal from the San Francisco 49ers one year prior.
At the time, the reaction was mixed. Some saw it as a smart long-term investment — locking down a top-tier pass rusher without breaking the bank. Others questioned whether Burns’ production really justified that kind of money.