Is Brian Burns the Panthers’ best breakout candidate in 2020?

The Carolina Panthers are expecting significant growth from Brian Burns next season, but is he their primary breakout candidate?

It’s not hard to see why big things are expected of Carolina Panthers’ defensive end Brian Burns in 2020. He has a better quality of player around him and it is up to him to deliver.

The former Florida State standout was selected 16th overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2019. This saw Burns show glimpses of his enormous promise on an otherwise disappointing campaign defensively during his rookie campaign.

Burns ended his first year as a professional with 19 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. This represented good production from a player who was on the field for 42 percent of the Panthers’ defensive snaps.

He will be given more responsibility next season as the Panthers move to a 4-3 base defense under new coordinator Phil Snow. This should give Burns additional space to work alongside the returning Kawann Short and No. 7 overall pick Derrick Brown.

Gary Davenport of The Bleacher Report predicted the best breakout candidate for every NFL team in a recent article. He selected Burns as the Panthers’ choice and gave these reasons behind the decision.

"“Like many of the young players listed in this piece, Carolina Panthers edge-rusher Brian Burns had a respectable rookie season in the NFL. The 6’5″ 250-pounder tallied 7.5 sacks and 23 pressures in 478 snaps in 2019. But the 16th overall pick in last year’s draft is going to be asked to do much more in 2020. As a rookie, Burns was a complementary pass-rusher. But with Mario Addison now in Buffalo, Burns is going to be tasked with leading one of the most impressive position groups on the team.”"

While the Panthers are expected go through some significant growing pains during their first year under new head coach Matt Rhule. There is some hope that their defensive front can show the necessary improvements to cause some problems for opposing offenses.

With free-agent signing Stephen Weatherly and second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos on the other side, together with Shaq Thompson operating just behind Burns. It represents a formidable-looking front six that will be marshaled by Tahir Whitehead from the inside linebacker spot.

How a young secondary with plenty to prove will fare in the face of stern competition is going to go a long way to determining their fortunes. Burns and the Panthers’ defensive front will give them every chance to succeed. But overall things might get worse before they get better in Carolina.