When it comes to the best defensive players in the league, T.J. Watt and Nick Bosa are two clear-cut favorites. While most may have them as the first names to come to mind, this New York Giants star left them off his list entirely. When asked to name the top five pass-rushers in the NFL right now, Brian Burns had quite an intriguing list.
New York Giants OLB Brian Burns Top 5 Pass-Rusher List Excludes T.J. Watt and Nick Bosa
As part of an interview with Jordan Schultz, Burns was put on the spot to name his top five pass rushers in the NFL. It was made very clear that this was a current list through the first four weeks of the NFL season. Showing just how much confidence he has in himself, Burns made sure he was the first name to come out of his mouth.
Schultz posted the clip on X with the caption, “Who are the top 5 pass-rushers in the NFL right now?! I asked the league’s current sack-leader, Giants OLB Brian Burns. His answers were strong.”
“No order but me first,” Burns said. “I’ll put Bonitto in there. Micah hasn’t been like having hella sack numbers, but when I watch his tape he’s flying off the ball. I’m not sure if Maxx got off to a slow start, but the last game he just had was crazy.”
“Who else is up there right now?” Burns questioned. Then, it hit him, “Oh my god, I’m tripping. Myles. I’m tripping. I’m wylin’ bro.” When all was said and done, Burns named himself, Nik Bonitto, Micah Parsons, Maxx Crosby, and Myles Garrett to his top five list. Ultimately, many key players, including Watt and Bosa, were excluded.
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Watt has 10 tackles with the Pittsburgh Steelers through the first four games. He already has three sacks as he tries to surpass the 11.5 he had last season. As for Bosa, the 49ers DB had nine tackles in his first three games with two sacks. He may be down with a torn ACL, but it’s hard to argue his impact as the team got off to a 3-0 start despite numerous other injuries.
Burns, the Giants’ 27-year-old, has 14 tackles and is tied for first in the NFL with five sacks through four games. By putting himself on the list, he showed just how much confidence he has in his abilities. Burns’ name is up there with the likes of Parsons, Crosby, and Garrett, all major playmakers who are among the highest-paid players in the league.
Burns’ Giants are 1-3 after rookie QB Jaxson Dart just led them to their first win of the season. They currently are ranked 29th in PFSN’s Offense Impact, something Burns would love to change as he’s been a difference maker on the other side of the ball.