How many sacks can Brian Burns and Hasson Reddick get in 2021?
By Dean Jones
How many sacks could the stud duo of Brian Burns and Haason Reddick generate for the Carolina Panthers in 2021?
Generating consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks was something the Carolina Panthers struggled to do during the first half of the 2020 season. Things did start trending on an upward curve as Phil Snow’s defense grew in stature, but if they want to really consider themselves as postseason challengers next time around, the defensive front needs to hit the ground running from the word go.
This is something that the Panthers‘ front office clearly identified for themselves. They acted swiftly in free agency to bolster their pass-rushing options with the signings of Haason Reddick and Morgan Fox from the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams respectively. Both should slot in seamlessly to the locker room and considering the price both were acquired for, it represents a potential bargain for the Panthers if they live up to their billing.
Just where Reddick is going to be utilized is another matter. He generated 12.5 sacks from the outside linebacker position in 2020, but he has no trouble sticking his hand in the dirt and operating as a defensive end.
Either way, putting Reddick opposite Brian Burns on the line of scrimmage is a mouth-watering prospect. The 2019 first-round pick was one of the league’s breakout stars last season and there might be even more to come now that there is another dominant presence across the line of scrimmage.
There is plenty of anticipation where the duo is concerned. But just how many sacks can the Panthers expect from them in 2021?