Brian Burns still feels ‘blessed’ despite not finding wins he hoped for after Panthers trade

Brian Burns didn’t deliberation he was getting traded from 1 rebuilding squad to another.

When nan Panthers and Giants executed a blockbuster woody successful March, Burns was hopeful that coming to New York meant much than conscionable a five-year, $141 cardinal extension.

Maybe he was yet moving retired of nan shape of his profession wherever he puts up large numbers but nan squad loses anyway.

Instead, Burns’ aged squad and his caller squad some person 2-7 records entering their conflict Sunday successful Germany.

“Going into a caller situation, you ever want to look connected nan affirmative broadside of things,” Burns said aft Wednesday’s practice. “But shot is football, and this is really it goes. Sometimes, it’s really nan cards fold. Overall, it’s still a blessed position I’m in.”

Burns expected to walk his full profession pinch nan Panthers, particularly aft they rejected a waste and acquisition connection of 2 first-round picks from nan Rams successful 2022.

He was mistaken, but he isn’t going to make this crippled astir proving nan Panthers incorrect for ne'er finalizing an hold aliases trash-talking nan friends he has kept successful Carolina.

“It’s not a revenge game. It’s conscionable different game,” Burns said. “Personally, I person my ain thoughts astir it. But I’m not going to make it immoderate bigger than [that] statement and everything’s going to beryllium astir it. I’m going to hole nan aforesaid measurement and scheme to get a triumph successful Germany.”

Burns staged a short-lived holdout earlier playing connected nan fifth-year action successful 2023.

A wide head alteration happened aft nan season, he was franchise-tagged to support him disconnected free agency, and nan Giants came trying to remake their personality by redirecting dollars from moving backmost Saquon Barkley and information Xavier McKinney to nan walk rush.

“I wouldn’t opportunity a surprise,” Burns said. “You could benignant of consciousness nan guidance it was going in.”

Giants wide head Joe Schoen and his Panthers counterpart, Dan Morgan, are longtime friends and erstwhile colleagues whose families picnic together.

So, a second-round pick, a fifth-round prime and an further fifth-round prime swap, positive nan second-largest statement signed by immoderate NFL separator rusher, sewage nan waste and acquisition done.

“Business happened,” Burns said. “I’m happy wherever I americium now, and I’m conscionable trying to make this squad win.”

It’s codification that’s been difficult for Burns and nan Giants to ace some separately and together.

Burns has 51 sacks since his rookie twelvemonth successful 2019 — 11th-most successful nan NFL — but a 25-64 record.

The Giants are 39-84-1 since 2017 but went to nan playoffs successful 2022.

“It’s difficult to comparison nan two, conscionable because of nan different variables successful each situation,” Burns said.

“I took connected a different domiciled coming here. Coming from a spot you were drafted, you activity to go that leader of that defense. To coming into a business that has different leaders already established. It’s a different avenue you person to return to beryllium yourself. I consciousness for illustration I did that, and I was capable to adapt.”

Burns has proved himself valuable.

He ranks No. 8 successful ESPN’s walk unreserved triumph complaint contempt playing done groin and Achilles injuries that time off him limping astir nan locker room aft games.

The Giants lead nan NFL pinch 35 sacks, arsenic Burns’ beingness connected nan extracurricular coincides pinch nan champion twelvemonth of protect tackle Dexter Lawrence’s Pro Bowl career.

“He’s been a awesome summation for america arsenic a talented playmaker and a leader,” protect co-captain Bobby Okereke said. “He does things nan correct measurement — plays pinch effort, strength and awesome method and fundamentals, which is simply a awesome illustration for nan young guys. For teams playing us, it’s giving them a difficult clip from a matchup standpoint.”

The Panthers utilized nan main prime acquired for Burns to waste and acquisition down and past utilized that return package to waste and acquisition up, yet settling connected nan first moving backmost disconnected nan board.

Jonathon Brooks has yet to make his play debut, however.

The Giants — who initially tried to see nan No. 47 prime for Burns but alternatively had to relinquish No. 39 — yet missed retired connected second-round cornerback targets Kool-Aid McKinstry (No. 41 to Saints) and Kamari Lassiter (No. 42 to Texans) for nan costs of landing Burns.

But caput coach Brian Daboll doesn’t consciousness immoderate otherwise now than he did erstwhile Schoen first mentioned successful February that nan Giants mightiness beryllium capable to get Burns.

“I said, ‘Great,’ ” Daboll said. “I was excited we sewage him. I admit his effort and really he is arsenic a subordinate and besides really he is arsenic a person.”