With the 16th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected outside linebacker Brian Burns out of Florida State.
Brian Burns is an edge rusher who will provide the Carolina Panthers with a much-needed playmaker on the outside of the defensive front. Carolina ranked in the bott0m-10 in the NFL in yards per pass attempt as well as team sacks and sack percentage. Burns totaled 23 sacks over three years and will look to create havoc for a defense looking for a boost on the edge.
Fantasy Impact of Brian Burns
Burns has quick feet and uses sudden bursts which allow him to beat blockers both inside and outside. He has excellent lateral movement and utilizes fluid spin moves with relative ease. These traits enable him to get to the quarterback quickly. Questions remain whether Burns has the strength to fend off blocks from NFL-caliber linemen. He put on about 15 pounds prior to the combine and showed no ill effects in terms of his quickness and agility. However, it remains to be seen whether he can remain effective playing with the added weight at the next level.
Carolina’s D/ST unit finished just 26th in fantasy points in 2018. They should show improvement this year, and Burns will be one of the reasons why. But I am not convinced his presence alone will turn them into a weekly must-start. They are more likely a streamer based on matchup and opponent.
Burns has struggled to process run plays. This flaw and his lack of strength could mean he is more of a sub-package player as opposed to every down mainstay. Because of this, I would not target Burns in IDP leagues despite his potential sack upside.
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