4 Carolina Panthers who are generating plenty of buzz at camp
By Dean Jones
Brian Burns – DE
There was plenty of buzz surrounding Brian Burns even before training camp. But this has increased even further thanks to his dazzling contribution to team drills.
Burns enjoyed a fine first season with the Carolina Panthers despite a wrist injury slowing him down late on. He has bulked up considerably during the offseason in pursuit of a better coping mechanism to the rigors of the NFL. And the ceiling could not be higher for the defensive end.
Putting him in a 4-3 base scheme alongside Kawann Short and No. 7 overall pick Derrick Brown is something else Burns has in his favor. His lightning quickness has been there for all to see during training camp so far and the former first-round pick appears highly motivated to do some real damage next time around.
The Florida State product managed to secure 7.5 sacks in a rotational role during his rookie campaign. This was an encouraging contribution from the player and although coping on a three-down basis is a different challenge entirely. There is nothing to suggest Burns is not poised to become one of the NFL’s best pass-rushing options in 2020.
That might appear to be a lofty goal to aim for from the outside looking in. But it is not out of the realms of possibility.