The Panthers Blew It With Brian Burns, And That NFC South Mistake Is Still Costing Them

Cameron Jordan has absolutely owned the edge rushing game in the NFC South for the better part of this decade, and the numbers don’t lie about his dominance. But while the New Orleans Saints star is still performing at a Hall of Fame level, the Carolina Panthers are probably kicking themselves over a player they let walk, a move that could have shifted the entire landscape of this defensive conversation.

Cameron Jordan: Still The Boss, Blame The Coach

Let’s be real, Jordan’s been *the* guy. He’s been the main event in the NFC South’s edge rush for years, even with a couple of what he calls “down years.” And hey, he’s not shy about pointing fingers, saying those dips happened because the Saints brought in Todd Grantham to coach him. Talk about telling it like it is! But outside of those two seasons in 2023 and 2024, where he only snagged six sacks, Jordan’s resume is just stupid good: 52 tackles for loss, 39 sacks, 13 pass deflections, and seven forced fumbles across 65 games. He’s got 62 Approximate Value and three Pro Bowl nods, stacking up a total score of 71. That’s a compelling argument for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, no doubt. The big question now is if anyone can even come close to his spot on this All-Decade team over the next four years.

The Brian Burns Blunder And Carolina’s Pain

Now, here’s where the Panthers’ brass probably feels that gut punch. Brian Burns was a certified slam-dunk first-round pick back in 2019, and he delivered, racking up 54 tackles for loss, 38.5 sacks, 13 pass deflections, and seven forced fumbles in 64 games. The dude was a two-time Pro Bowler, a genuine presence off the edge who earned an Approximate Value of 35 and a total score of 41. But what did the Panthers do? They chose *not* to sign him to a lucrative contract extension. Seriously? If they’d held onto him, we might be talking about Burns giving Jordan a real run for that top spot. Instead, he’s a painful reminder of what Carolina had and struggled immensely to replace. That’s gotta sting, big time.

The Rest of the Edge Rushers and What’s Ahead

Rounding out the top spots on this list is Shaquil Barrett from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who played for them from 2020 to 2024. He put in solid work, earning an Approximate Value of 31 and a Pro Bowl selection, giving him a score of 34. The way these players are scored uses a system called Approximate Value from Pro Football Reference, which tries to put a single number on a player’s seasonal worth. It rewards guys who start more, play more snaps, and make plays like getting sacks and creating turnovers. Plus, there are bonus points for All-Pro selections and Pro Bowls. Interestingly, the Atlanta Falcons were completely shut out from these top spots for now, but with some big production coming out of 2025, don’t expect them to be missing for long. It’s clear Jordan is the standard, but as the decade rolls on, it’ll be wild to see if anyone can truly challenge his reign.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.