The Giants acquired Brian Burns and pick No. 166 from…
The Giants acquired Brian Burns and pick No. 166 from Carolina for picks No. 39, No. 141 and a 2025 fifth-rounder, then signed Burns long term. Burns developed into a centerpiece, producing 16.5 sacks, 31 quarterback hits and 22 tackles for loss in 2025 while earning second-team All-Pro honors. Carolina received meaningful draft capital, but New York acquired elite performance and another useful pick.
Carolina Panthers Received
- pick 2024 2nd round pick (39th overall subsequently traded, Braden Fiske ), 2024 5th round pick (141st overall subsequently traded, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger ) and 2025 5th round pick (140th overall, Cam Jackson)
New York Giants Received
- player Brian Burns
- pick 2024 5th round pick (166th overall, Tyrone Tracy )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
New York acquired Brian Burns and the 166th pick in the 2024 draft from Carolina. The Panthers received No. 39, No. 141 and a 2025 fifth-round selection. The Giants also committed to Burns with a long-term contract, so this was not a cheap rental; New York paid both draft capital and money for a proven edge defender. Carolina chose flexibility rather than carrying the franchise-tagged star into another contract standoff.
How the Value Developed
Burns justified the aggressive investment. In 2025 he set career highs with 16.5 sacks, 31 quarterback hits and 22 tackles for loss, earned his third Pro Bowl selection and was named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press. The extra pick New York received, No. 166, became Tyrone Tracy, adding another useful young player to the Giants' side. Carolina did not leave empty-handed: its package included a high second-rounder and additional Day 3 capital that could be redirected across the roster.
Why New York Gets the Edge
The original Carolina grade was too harsh because the Panthers received a legitimate premium asset package and gained financial flexibility. A B- better reflects the value of moving a star when a long-term agreement was not coming together. New York still wins decisively because the hardest asset to acquire is an elite edge rusher, and Burns reached that level after the trade. The Giants also received Tracy's pick, improving an already strong return.
Final Verdict
New York earns an A+ for acquiring and retaining an All-Pro-caliber pass rusher while also landing another contributor. Carolina rises to B- because the compensation was meaningful rather than negligible. The Panthers made a defensible asset-management choice, but the Giants secured the rare impact player and received the stronger realized football value.