5 Panthers players who could become first-time Pro Bowlers in 2021
By Dean Jones
Brian Burns – Carolina Panthers DE
One of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs in 2020 was undoubtedly Brian Burns. The stud defensive end enjoyed a phenomenal campaign for the Carolina Panthers and proved beyond all doubt he is one of the league’s brightest young pass rushers.
Burns worked exceptionally hard on his game last summer, enabling him to become a more rounded edge defender rather than just an explosive edge rusher. This came with plenty of memorable highlights from a player who gets to the point of attack incredibly quickly in pursuit of bringing down opposing quarterbacks.
The former Florida State standout won’t be a surprise to any team coming up against him next season. Opposing protection schemes will devise their game plan primarily on stopping Burns, so more improvements are needed before competitive action begins.
This is something Burns is clearly aware of. He is also emerging as Carolina’s leader on defense this offseason, which is yet another potential impact that could see his production surge as a result.
It won’t take much for Burns to get his first Pro Bowl appearance if he keeps developing in Year 3. This is normally the time when defensive players take a substantial leap forward, which means one cannot be anything other than excited to see what the 2019 first-round selection can produce in 2021.