​One of the most frustrating developments surrounding the Carolina Panthers in recent years has been the team’s pattern of letting their top talents depart or dismissing them in a less-than-ceremonious fashion. The nadir of this trend came with the surprise release of quarterback Cam Newton before the 2020 season. Since then, several other high-profile players have left the squad, including running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver DJ Moore, and more recently, edge rusher Brian Burns.
The Panthers did receive some compensation for Burns in 2024—a second- and a fifth-round pick from the New York Giants—but given Burns’s impact on the field, it’s hard to argue that Carolina extracted the better end of that deal. Burns has continued to shine, earning a spot on ESPN’s list of the league’s top 10 edge rushers for the year. The ranking emerged from an anonymous survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts, and was reported by senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler.
According to Fowler, Burns “put it all together in Year 7,” finishing second in the NFL with 16.5 sacks and earning a second-team All-Pro nod. That sack total marked the highest by a Giants player since Jason Pierre-Paul in 2011, underscoring Burns’s production. His 31 quarterback hits in 2025 also ranked fourth among all defensive players, and he was the NFL’s only player with five multiple-sack games in the previous season. Despite Burns’s standout performances in recent years, his name had previously appeared among top-10 edge rushers, only to drift into honorable-mention territory in 2025.
In Burns’s absence, the Panthers’ pass rush has deteriorated markedly. The team capped the 2024 season with 32 sacks, tying for the third-fewest in the NFL. The following season, the Panthers again found themselves near the bottom of the league in sacks, tying for 30th with 30 sacks. In an effort to bolster the position, Carolina pursued a high-profile acquisition, signing outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120 million contract. If Phillips can deliver a disruptive pass rush comparable to Burns, Carolina’s decision to move on from Burns might become a distant memory rather than a painful reminder.
It’s worth noting that Phillips himself did not crack ESPN’s list, either not earning an honorable mention, but landing in the “Also receiving votes” category. The broader question remains whether Carolina’s investment in Phillips—and any future moves on the edge—will translate into the sustained, disruptive presence that Burns provided prior to his departure. For more Panthers coverage and updates, you can follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire, discussing a former Panthers star’s ranking among the NFL’s top 10 edge rushers in the current season, a topic that has ongoing implications for the team’s front office strategy and its long-term defense.