The Los Angeles Rams totaled just 41 sacks this past season, which ranked in the bottom third of the NFL.
Considering the Rams have future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald and also boast a pair of terrific young pass rushers in Kobie Turner and Byron Young, you would think Los Angeles would rank higher in sacks.
Nevertheless, the Rams still aren’t great at getting to the quarterback, which speaks to how little depth they have at edge rusher.
That’s why Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network is suggesting that Los Angeles trades for Carolina Panthers superstar Brian Burns this offseason.
Burns is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he played 16 games and registered 50 tackles, eight sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Florida State, was selected by the Panthers with the 16th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.
He had an impressive rookie campaign, logging 25 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He then registered 58 tackles, nine sacks and three forced fumbles during his sophomore year.
Burns went on to make back-to-back trips to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022, with his best season to date coming in the latter year when he racked up 63 tackles, 12.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
The Fort Lauderdale, Fl. native is actually slated to hit free agency next month, but Carolina is expected to franchise tag him. That would then make him available for trade if the Panthers so desired.
Los Angeles tried to acquire Burns back at the trade deadline in October, offering a couple of first-round draft picks and a second-rounder in exchange for his services.
Looking back, Carolina probably should have taken that deal.
That is, of course, unless the Panthers sign Burns to a long-term extension, which is entirely plausible.
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