Panthers DE Brian Burns should ignite interest from LA Rams

The LA Rams have a lot of places where the team could use help. But one of the areas where the Rams’ front office seems to do an excellent job is squelching out the background noise and seizing upon those unique and rare opportunities to land a player who could be a game-changer.

Right now, there is the potential to do exactly that. The Carolina Panthers, a team that has already accepted their fate this season to undertake a rebuild by clearing house of their coaching staff, has a number of key players on the roster who should be of interest to the LA Rams. In fact, we’d already named six players on the Carolina Panthers roster who would be very intriguing additions to the LA Rams roster right now.

While the Rams’ offensive woes carry the headlines, all offensive linemen who started the season for the Rams are due to return in the upcoming weeks. But the LA Rams pass rush only has the return of outside linebacker Daniel Hardy to look forward to, and without sounding too pessimistic, his return will likely not move the needle much for the Rams’ defense.

Burning down the opponents

One player who would move that needle is Panthers defensive end Brian Burns, who is already averaging more than eight quarterback sacks and 44 tackles per season in just his first three seasons in the NFL.

Better yet, the NFL rumors surrounding Burns indicate that he is on the trading block and is almost certain to be moved before the NFL Trade Deadline.

You have to believe that the LA Rams will surely pick up the phone and inquire as to his availability. While fans may only be interested in offensive linemen, here is why Burns makes sense:

Aaron Donald’s retirement looms

Like it or not, the LA Rams are over the barrel if and when defensive lineman Aaron Donald chooses to retire from the NFL. Right now, that could happen at any point in the future.

Was it all bargaining leverage to sign an optimal contract? The Rams cannot run the team that way, as at some point the money will run dry. Picking up a young defensive standout like Brian Burns may not replace the raw elite defensive skills of Aaron Donald, but it could go a long way in learning from the best now, and hopefully delivering nearly to that level of play in the future.

The Rams’ defense needs help on the pass rush

The LA Rams are struggling a bit at putting pressure on opposing defenses, particularly on quarterbacks. After five games, the LA Rams’ 10 sacks only get them as high as the 19th-ranked defense in the NFL. While the Panthers’ defense only has eight quarterback sacks, Burns has accounted for 50 percent of their defense at getting to the quarterback.

Now, imagine how many he might get lining up next to Aaron Donald.

Brian Burns is an outstanding young player

The LA Rams love to acquire outstanding young players who can make a significant impact to the team’s overall performance. Since Rams GM Les Snead has combined with HC Sean McVay, the team has exhausted their first-round draft pick to acquire significant talent that has a proven track record in NFL play.

Burns clearly fits the description, as the first five games of the 2022 NFL season already find him at 21 tackles and four quarterback sacks. In an ironic coincidence, after five games the only LA Rams player to match those numbers is Aaron Donald, who has 21 tackles and four quarterback sacks.

Improving an NFL team should not be limited to finding the perfect player to fill the biggest hole on the roster. The LA Rams could definitely benefit from the addition of Brian Burns to the roster. And the Rams have proven themselves willing to pay for difference makers.

Stay tuned on this one. Things could develop rapidly.