Giants offseason acquisition named one of 12 non-QB companies under the most pressure

Outside linebacker Brian Burns is one of the best pass rushers in the league. His addition to the New York Giants strengthened the team’s front seven and helped increase the Giants’ credibility on the defensive side of the ball even before the snap.

However, according to Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, a player known for putting pressure on quarterbacks faces a lot of pressure himself heading into the 2024 season. Benjamin ranked Burns No. 11 (of 12) on his list The 12 non-players are under the most pressure for the upcoming season.

“Burns entered into a lucrative engagement after arriving in the country through trade; specifically, his average annual salary of $28.2 million ranks third among all pass rushers behind Nick Bosa and Josh Allen, despite his double-digit sacks in only one of his four NFL seasons,” Benjamin wrote in justifying the placement Burns on the list.

“As Brian Daboll continues to work on the offense, he could be crucial to their trajectory.”

Benjamin is not wrong in his logic. The 26-year-old Burns, whom the Giants acquired with a second-round pick this year and a fifth-round pick next year, has nearly 50 sacks and a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2022.

Last season, Burns took a step back, recording only eight sacks, although, admittedly, he did not have a player on the Carolina team to support him on offense.

But things should be different for Burns in New York. Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence II will be on the field with him as the Giants look to convert most of their pressure into sacks, primarily using their front seven.

One player who could likely come under more pressure is third-year forward Evan Neal. Neal was a top-10 prospect out of Alabama, but his time with the Giants, who finished seventh in 2022, was marked by struggles and injuries.

The Giants, who didn’t draft an offensive lineman this year, were rooting for Neal as he recovered from offseason ankle surgery. While injuries were part of his problem, inconsistent technique also was an issue, causing Neal to rely more on his size and raw strength than his technique, which new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo hopes to fix.

The Giants as a whole will be under a lot of pressure in 2024 after going 6-11 last season, but if they can get some young veterans to contribute, they should be much more productive in the coming year.