Carolina Panthers: Brian Burns is already turning heads

The Carolina Panthers rookie is already making an impact.

It’s no secret that Brian Burns is a stud. After all, the defensive end was picked by the Carolina Panthers with the 16th overall pick in last month’s draft. Now, he looks to prove that he is worthy of that draft pick as the Carolina Panthers look to get the youth movement underway on the defensive side of the football.

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It’s no secret that Burns is a talented football player. He showed his explosiveness in his freshman year of 2016. Playing for Florida State, he recorded 8.5 sacks and forced a fumble. He made it very clear early on that he was a pure pass rusher. That would be exemplified last season, as he would record a career-high 10 sacks on the season. He was the perfect draft pick to replace a player like Julius Peppers, who the Carolina Panthers are undoubtedly going to miss.

So far, he has made an impact on the field for an organization that desperately needs him to do so. Some could say it’s unfair that the Panthers have placed these expectations on Burns, but then again it is all part of the job. If he could turn out as good as Peppers, or even be half the player Peppers was, that would be a successful day at the office for all involved. So far, he is already showing that aggressiveness. As Max Henson of Panthers.com noted, Burns was all over the field on Tuesday.

"First-round pick Brian Burns was all over a reverse to Samuel, stopping the play behind the line. Good to see the young edge rusher hold his ground and not get fooled. Burns later showed great pursuit chasing down Moore after the wide receiver caught a short pass and was weaving his way into the secondary."

This is a great sign, as it shows he is not resting on his laurels and is a player with a constant motor. That’s what I expected from him even before the Carolina Panthers drafted him, but it is good to hear that he is ready to go. Hopefully, he can continue to make several plays this week that are of the standout variety. I was elated when the Carolina Panthers drafted him, and I can really see him being a tremendous fit in their defense.

I can’t wait to see what he can do during the preseason and the things he can accomplish once he has learned the playbook. That will be a true test. Right now, he is probably going over fundamentals. When he starts learning the playbook, then we will get a better idea of how he will be able to maximize his talents on what should be a very formidable Carolina Panthers defense.

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