Panthers bolster pass rush with Brian Burns in 1st round

The Carolina Panthers selected pass-rusher Brian Burns out of Florida State with the 16th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

He has rare size, length, and explosiveness for the position and adds a high-upside player to Carolina's front-four. Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin currently sit atop the Panthers' depth chart at defensive end.

Burns was an all ACC first-team selection this past season and was viewed as a prospect with one of the highest ceilings in the draft. He accumulated 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 2018.

Prospect profile

School: Florida State
Height: 6-5
Weight: 249 lbs

Strengths

• Tall with long arms used to set edge
• Excellent pursuit speed
• Quick-twitch athlete, explodes off the snap
• Powerful, sudden hands
• Uses a plethora of effective pass-rush moves and counters
• Incredibly flexible, runs the arc and changes direction with ease
• Productive collegiate career, dominated elite offensive tackles
• Very good athlete for position
• Lethal bend/rip and inside spin

Weaknesses

• Thin frame, should add weight for NFL
• Can be overpowered in run defense
• Doesn't convert speed to power

Bottom line

Burns is arguably the best pure pass-rusher in this year's class, which will place him high on a number of teams' draft boards. The lanky defender profiles as a solid fit in both 4-3 and 3-4 defenses, but will likely be asked to add some weight and strength to secure an every-down role early in his career. There are concerns, but Burns is a developed edge rusher who possesses elite athleticism, excellent bend through contact, and solid collegiate production.