Brian Burns’ 2019 NFL DROY Odds Get a Lot Shorter as Panthers Are 2 Weeks From Training Camp

• Following a successful three-year college career with the Florida State Seminoles, defensive end Brian Burns was selected 16th overall at the 2019 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers
• Pegged as a +1400 wager to win 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors on the NFL props, Burns will face stiff competition from favorites Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams
• Linebacker Devin White joins a rapidly improving Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line, and has emerged as a strong value bet at +700 in the DROY odds

As the clock ticks down to the opening of the Carolina Panthers’ training camp on July 24th, defensive end Brian Burns continues to make steady gains in the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds, climbing to +1400.

Odds to Win 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

*Odds taken July 11, 2019. 

Burns Excelled Despite FSU’s Diminishing Fortunes

Drafted 16th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Burns will be expected to have an immediate impact on the Panthers defense following a successful three-year career at Florida State. The 21-year-old enjoyed an immediate breakthrough in his first season with the Seminoles, leading all freshmen in the nation with 9.5 sacks.

I wrote about Florida State's Brian Burns for Football Outsiders. Burst, bend, countermoves; Burns has it all as a pass-rusher. https://t.co/uxUdO6wFSs pic.twitter.com/6MstOEPLvw

— Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass) March 13, 2019

The Fort Lauderdale native continued to show steady improvement despite the Seminoles’ diminishing fortunes over the past two seasons. Burns emerged as one of the few bright spots on a shaky FSU defense that ranked 79th in the nation last year, racking up personal best totals in tackles with 52, along with 10 sacks.

Burns emerged as one of the few bright spots on a shaky FSU defense, racking up personal best totals in tackles with 52, along with 10 sacks.

Pegged as a +3000 bet on the NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds in the days shortly after the Panthers made him their top pick at this year’s draft, Burns’ stock has risen since participating in OTAs, drawing comparisons to 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Von Miller.

Obstacles Exist Entering Rookie Campaign

However, while Burns projects to have big upside in the long term, he may face some barriers in his first year as a pro. The 6’5″ lineman has reportedly struggled in his efforts to bulk up in preparation for his pro debut, struggling to maintain the weight he added ahead of recent OTAs.

Brian Burns trying to find ideal weight, after a pretty significant swing from college to the Combine https://t.co/qurOs8hoX3

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 11, 2019

In addition, with less than two weeks remaining until the opening of camp, Burns remains inexplicably unsigned to a rookie deal. It is tough to imagine that a deal won’t get done before the opening of camp considering the Panthers’ desperate need for help on defense. The Carolina pass defense ranked a distant 11th in the NFC last season, surrendering 240.4 yards per game, and was second last in the conference with just 32 total sacks.

The team’s shaky defense played a big role in a seven-game slide in the second half of last season that left the squad outside the playoff picture for the second time in two years. And with Carolina’s position as a lengthy +195 longshot to return to the postseason, it does little for Burns’ DROY aspirations, with three of the past five winners coming from playoff-bound squads.

Bosa, Williams Lead the Way in DROY Odds

Burns also faces stiff competition from a host of Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates that were selected ahead of him in this year’s NFL Draft. Taken second overall by the San Francisco 49ers, defensive end Nick Bosa leads the way on the DROY odds as a +400 favorite, just ahead of New York Jets DE Quinnen Williams at +500.

Back in Columbus for the Midwest Sports Spectacular, former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa talks about his rehab from injury and preparation for the NFL draft. pic.twitter.com/HVj1gazhTY

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 19, 2019

Bosa has emerged as the early favorite despite being limited by injury to just three games with the Ohio State Buckeyes last season. The 21-year-old enjoyed a spectacular 2017 campaign with the Buckeyes, earning unanimous First Team All-Big Ten and the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors, but caution is advisable considering his long layoff.

Williams’ success in his pro debut will likely be determined by how he is used by the Jets’ new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. And while the talk around Jets camp has been about “changing culture”, it is tough to overlook the front office chaos that has plagued the franchise and risks trickling down to the bench.

Opportunity Knocks for Bucs LB Devin White

Perhaps the most intriguing option in the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds is linebacker Devin White, whom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the fifth overall pick this year.

McCoy OUT – Suh IN 😳

The star DT & 5x Pro-Bowler is signing a 1yr contract with Tampa!

Set to replace McCoy on the DL, Suh brings a different kind of energy to that D! Maybe one more suited to a guy like Devin White 🤷‍♂️ time will tell!#NFL #Suh #Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/yIMnW5m8Y3

— Redshirt Heisman (@TasteOfSport) May 21, 2019

Listed alongside Devin Bush and Josh Allen as a +700 wager, White joins an improved Bucs’ defensive line bolstered by the addition of veteran Ndamukong Suh, and the emergence of 2018 first-round pick Vita Vea, which should provide him with the opportunity to use his speed on the outside, and quickly emerge as a leading DROY candidate in the upcoming campaign.

Pick: Devin White (+700)