Panthers: 3 achievable goals for DE Brian Burns in 2020
By Dean Jones
Here are three achievable goals from defensive end Brian Burns as he looks to make his presence felt with the Carolina Panthers in 2020.
Brian Burns heads into his sophomore season with plenty of expectations on his shoulders. The Carolina Panthers lost some experienced pass-rushers during free agency. And the onus will be on their 2019 first-round pick to fill the void.
Stepping up into a prominent starting role looks like a challenge that Burns is more than ready for. The player showed tremendous promise as a rookie. And he goes into 2020 as one of the Panthers’ primary breakout candidates.
Things will not be easy for the Panthers next season, of that there is little doubt. Any success they pick up during the first year of their rebuild is going to be a bonus. And Burns’ contribution is going to be crucial.
He is now the No. 1 defensive end option despite the arrival of free-agent Stephen Weatherly. Everything is in place for Burns to make a serious impression in his second year. And he can take great confidence from his efforts last time out.
Burns made a smooth transition to the NFL after securing 23 sacks from his three-year stint with Florida State. He is tremendously explosive off the block. And if he can work on other areas of his game, then Carolina could have one of the best in the business on their hands.
Just how much the Panthers can expect from Burns remains uncertain. But here are three achievable goals that the pass-rusher can aspire to in 2020.