Brian Burns named among NFL's top 10 edge rushers by ESPN
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 8, 2026, 4:01 PM
Last updated Jul 8, 2026
Brian Burns, former star pass rusher for the Panthers, has been ranked among the top 10 edge rushers in the NFL by ESPN following a strong performance in 2025. He recorded 16.5 sacks, the highest for a Giants player since 2011, and achieved a second-team All-Pro selection. This ranking highlights the Panthers' struggles to maintain a competitive pass rush after trading him in 2024. Carolina finished the last season among the teams with the fewest sacks. The Panthers have since signed Jaelan Phillips in an attempt to bolster their defensive line.
- •Brian Burns finished second in the NFL with 16.5 sacks in 2025.
- •His performance earned him a second-team All-Pro nod.
- •The Panthers traded Burns to the Giants for multiple draft picks.
- •Carolina's pass rush has struggled since Burns' departure, finishing last in sacks.
- •Jaelan Phillips was signed by the Panthers to improve the defensive line.
- 4:01 PMYahoo Sports — Former Panthers star ranked among NFL's top 10 edge rushers
"A former star pass rusher for the Panthers has, unsurprisingly, made ESPN's list of the top players at his position.
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