Drafted in the first round (16th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Florida State, Brian Burns arrived in Charlotte as an explosive, bendy edge rusher. Across his five seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Burns served as a bright spot during a challenging era for the franchise, constantly terrorizing opposing backfields with his speed off the corner.

Burns demonstrated a rare initial burst and ankle flexion in Carolina’s pass rush. Operating mainly from the outside edge, he employed a lightning-quick first step, a signature ghost-move, and an impressive dip-and-bend technique to effectively maneuver around offensive tackles. His speed in pursuit rendered him a formidable backfield playmaker against both passing dropbacks and perimeter run strategies.

Burns demonstrated an immediate impact during his rookie season in 2019, participating in all 16 games, including five starts, and recording 7.5 sacks as well as a 56-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Upon assuming a full-time starting role in 2020, he achieved 9.0 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles.

His ongoing development reached its peak with consecutive Pro Bowl selections in 2021 and 2022. The 2022 season was notably his best performance with the Panthers, achieving personal bests with 12.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 22 quarterback hits. Despite changes in defensive schemes and offensive difficulties within the team, Burns maintained consistency in 2023, recording 8.0 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

After 2023, the Panthers tagged Burns non-exclusively in March 2024 and traded him to the Giants for draft picks. He ranked fifth on Carolina's sack list, with 246 tackles, 46.0 sacks, 59 TFL, 95 QB hits, and 8 forced fumbles.