As a freshman at Florida State in 2016, Burns played in all 13 games and led all freshman in the country with 8.5 sacks.[4] As a sophomore in 2017, he started all 13 games and had 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks.[5][6][7] As a junior in 2018, Burns started all 12 games, recording 52 tackles and 10 sacks. After the season, Burns decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2019 NFL draft.[8][9]
Burns was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round with the 16th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.[14] In Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Burns recorded a sack on Gardner Minshew and returned a forced fumble for a touchdown in the 34–27 win.[15] As a rookie, he appeared in 16 games and started five. He finished with 7.5 sacks, 25 total tackles, and one forced fumble.[16]
In Week 3 of the 2020 season against the Los Angeles Chargers, Burns recorded his first sack of the season on Justin Herbert, a strip sack that was recovered by the Panthers, during the 21–16 win.[17]
In Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints, Burns recorded a strip sack on Drew Brees that was recovered by the Panthers during the 27–24 loss.[18] In Week 11 against the Detroit Lions, Burns recorded two sacks on Matthew Stafford during a shutout win and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[19] He appeared in 15 games and started 14 in the 2020 season. He finished with nine sacks, 58 total tackles, four passes defended, and three forced fumbles.[20]
On December 27, 2021, Burns was placed on the Panthers COVID-19 reserve list.[21] In the 2021 season, he appeared in all 17 games and started 16. He finished with nine sacks, 50 total tackles, four passes defended, and two forced fumbles.[22] He earned Pro Bowl honors for the 2021 season.[23] He was ranked 76th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.[24]
The Panthers picked up the fifth-year option on Burns's contract on April 26, 2022.[25] In Week 12 against the Denver Broncos, Burns had two sacks on Russell Wilson, a forced fumble, and one pass deflection, earning him NFC Defensive Player of The Week.[26] He finished the 2022 season with 12.5 sacks, 63 total tackles, three passes defended, and one forced fumble in 16 games and starts.[27] He earned Pro Bowl honors for the 2022 season.[28] He was ranked 54th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.[29]
Burns opened the 2023 season at Atlanta with seven tackles and two sacks. It marked his third career multi-sack game.[30] He moved up the Panthers all-time sack list in Week 5 at Detroit, making his 42nd career sack and passing Kevin Greene for fifth all-time in Panthers history.[31]
On March 5, 2024, the Panthers placed the franchise tag on Burns.[32]
New York Giants
On March 13, 2024, the Panthers traded Burns with the San Francisco 49ers' 2024 fifth-round pick to the New York Giants in exchange for second-round and fifth-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft.[33][34] The Giants then signed Burns to a five-year, $141 million contract with $87.5 million guaranteed.[35]