Positional ranking: #3
Big Board ranking: #10
Overview
Position: EDGE
College: Florida State
Class: Junior
Age: 21
Measurables
Height: 6’4 3/4″
Weight: 249 lbs.
Arm length: 33 7/8”
Hand size: 10”
Athletic testing
40-yard dash: 4.53 sec.
Vertical jump: 36.0”
Broad jump: 129.0”
Bench press: DNP
3-cone drill: 7.01 sec.
Short shuttle: DNP
Strengths
Slippery edge defender in a prototypical frame. Wins with explosiveness and speed. Violent hands. Shows patience and deceptiveness. Can use a single straight arm to keep distance from blockers. Very light feet. Possesses a hop step to get inside. Spin move is fast and efficient. Attacks the ball to cause strip sacks. Full force tackler. Good timing to deflect passes at the line of scrimmage. Played both sides of the formation and standing up or with his hand in the dirt. A+ movement skills for the position. Superb balance. Extremely comfortable in space. Natural hands. Has the versatility to be an off-ball linebacker.
Weaknesses
Mostly a finesse player. Gives up too much ground setting the edge. Momentum can get halted against power. Doesn’t have much of a bull rush. Needs to be more relentless to create second chances.
NFL comparison
Lorenzo Carter – There might be a better historical comparison as a pure pass rusher, but edge players seemingly get longer and more athletic every year, and Brian Burns’ versatility makes him similar to 2018 prospect Lorenzo Carter.
Conclusion
Overall, Brian Burns is a violent glider that has flashed big-time natural ability getting after the quarterback. He fits best as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but Burns is a great athlete that would likely thrive playing off the ball in a 4-3 defense, too.
Maybe he’ll be there at 24?
Brian Buuuuuuurns