Any Carolina Panther winning this year’s Most Valuable Player award would be quite a stretch. So, any non-quarterback Carolina Panther winning this year’s Most Valuable Player award would be quite a tremendous stretch.
Nevertheless, NFL.com lead draft writer Eric Edholm reached for 32 players (outside the all-important position) who have the best chances at the exclusive honor. Edholm, for Carolina, goes with outside linebacker Brian Burns:
Burns turned in his best pass-rushing season to date in Year 4 and might be primed for more greatness this year. He figures to be the centerpiece of a defense that features four former first-round picks and four former second-rounders.
The Panthers have a chance to rebound after a tough season because they have a young quarterback in Bryce Young who might be able to have success immediately, but Burns and the defense likely will go a long way toward determining how many games they’ll win in 2023. You’d like to see other pass-rush sources develop alongside Burns, but he’s thrived amid worse talent.
The former first-rounder has thrived all the way to consecutive Pro Bowl appearances over the last two seasons. In that time, Burns amassed 21.5 sacks, 40 quarterback hits, 119 pressures and three forced fumbles.
He’ll also be amassing some big-time money pretty soon, probably even before he gets to embark on a valuable 2023 campaign.
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Story originally appeared on Panthers Wire